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Pediatric cinnarizine overdose and toxicokinetics.
Dan Turner1, Yael Lurie, Yoram Finkelstein
1Department of Pediatrics, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. dan.turner@sickkids.ca
Pediatrics
|April 26, 2006
Summary
Cinnarizine overdose in a toddler caused severe symptoms including stupor and convulsions. Pediatric patients require medical observation for potential neurological complications following cinnarizine ingestion.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cinnarizine, a piperazine derivative, is prescribed for vestibular disorders and motion sickness.
- It possesses antihistaminic, antiserotoninergic, antidopaminergic, and calcium channel-blocking properties.
Observation:
- A 30-month-old toddler ingested 225 mg of cinnarizine (18x recommended dose).
- Symptoms included jitteriness, vomiting, stupor, hand twitching, and generalized tonic-clonic convulsions.
- Serum cinnarizine levels were significantly elevated, peaking at 7407 ng/mL.
Findings:
- The case details the first reported cinnarizine poisoning and toxicokinetics in English literature.
- Calculated half-life was 3.65 hours.
- Overdose cases (23 reported) show altered consciousness, vomiting, extrapyramidal symptoms, hypotonia, and in children, convulsions.
Implications:
- Neurologic complications, like convulsions, may stem from cinnarizine's antihistaminic and antidopaminergic effects.
- Pediatric patients with cinnarizine overdose need healthcare facility observation for potential neurologic issues.
- Symptomatic treatment and consideration of delayed clinical effects are crucial in managing pediatric cinnarizine overdose.