Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
06:59
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Tarka® overdose in a young child.
Murat Doğan1, Murat Basaranoglu, Erdal Peker
1Department of Pediatrics, Yuzuncu Yil University, School of Medicine, Van, Türkiye. doganmurat.md@gmail.com
Human & Experimental Toxicology
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Accidental ingestion of Tarka®, a verapamil and trandolapril combination, caused severe hypotension and bradycardia in a young child. A temporary pacemaker restored normal heart rhythm, highlighting potential toxicity risks in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Toxicology
Background:
- Tarka® is a fixed-dose combination of verapamil hydrochloride and trandolapril used for hypertension.
- Pediatric data on Tarka® overdose is scarce.
Observation:
- A 3.5-year-old child ingested six Tarka® tablets, leading to lethargy and progressive hypotension.
- Despite medical treatment, the child's condition deteriorated, requiring intervention.
Findings:
- The patient required a temporary pacemaker implantation due to severe bradycardia and hypotension.
- Vital signs normalized post-pacemaker implantation, with successful removal after 13 hours.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for severe toxicity from Tarka® in young children.
- Lethargy can be an early sign of clinical deterioration in pediatric overdose cases.
- Understanding toxic doses is crucial for managing accidental pediatric ingestions of combination antihypertensives.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
01:00Drug Toxicity: Overview
Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...