Gemfibrozil ingestions reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000-2005

Review of the literature failed to identify any information on potentially adverse ingestions of the cholesterol-lowering drug gemfibrozil (GEM) reported to poison control centers. Data from Texas poison control centers were used to describe the pattern of isolated GEM ingestions reported during 2000-2005. A total of 118 cases were identified. The mean maximum dose ingested was 2407 mg (range 300-18,000 mg) or 3.3 tablets/capsules (range 1-30 tablets/capsules). The patient was male in 55% of the cases. The most common circumstances of the exposure were unintentional therapeutic error (49%), general unintentional (34%), and suspected attempted suicide (11%). The management site was on site (84%), already at/en route to a health care facility (10%), referred to a health care facility (5%), and other (2%). The ingestion considered potentially toxic in 3% of the cases and no deaths were reported. A specific adverse clinical effect was listed for 9% of the cases, being gastrointestinal (5%), neurological (3%), or cardiovascular (1%). A specific treatment was listed for 54% of the cases, most frequently decontamination by dilution (39%) or food (15%). Potentially adverse isolated GEM ingestions reported to poison control centers generally do not involve serious medical outcomes and are successfully managed at home with a favorable outcome.