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Clonidine Compounding Error: Bradycardia and Sedation in a Pediatric Patient
Alexander F Barbuto1, Michele M Burns2
1Harvard Medical Toxicology Fellowship, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
A pediatric case highlights compounding pharmacy errors. A 12-year-old boy experienced severe sedation and hypotension due to an eightfold overdose of liquid clonidine, emphasizing the need for vigilance in medication preparation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Clonidine, a central alpha-2 agonist, treats hypertension and ADHD.
- Liquid clonidine formulations are used for patients with swallowing difficulties.
- Overdose can lead to sedation, bradycardia, and hypotension.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old boy with autism presented with altered mental status, sedation, bradycardia, and hypotension.
- His symptoms were consistent with a central alpha-2 agonist overdose.
- His liquid clonidine preparation was recently refilled from a compounding pharmacy.
Findings:
- Laboratory analysis revealed the compounded liquid clonidine was approximately eight times the labeled concentration.
- This significant overdose was the likely cause of the patient's severe symptoms.
- The patient's condition normalized after supportive care.
Implications:
- Compounding pharmacy errors can lead to unexpected medication toxicity.
- Emergency physicians must recognize the toxidrome of alpha-2 agonist overdose.
- Investigating medication errors is crucial to prevent future harm to patients.
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