Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
12:21

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

Published on: November 27, 2016

15.4K

Citalopram intoxication in four week old infant

Jo-Anne Janson1, Arthur T M Wasylewicz2, Marianne Eijkemans3

  • 1Pediatrics, Maastricht UMC+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

BMC Pediatrics
|December 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Medication errors can cause infant citalopram intoxication. This case report details an infant

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Clinical Toxicology
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • Infant intoxications frequently result from medication errors, unlike toddlers' accidental ingestions.
  • This is the first reported case of citalopram intoxication in an infant.
  • Medication errors involving 'look alike' products pose a significant risk to infants.

Observation:

  • A 4-week-old infant presented with extreme jitteriness and opisthotonus after accidental citalopram ingestion.
  • Symptoms included prolonged gastro-oesophageal reflux; no cardiac arrhythmias or seizures were observed.
  • Clinical presentation was assessed using Finnegan scores, correlating with pharmacokinetic data.

Findings:

  • Citalopram intoxication in an infant can manifest with neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms.
  • Pharmacokinetic data in infants is crucial for understanding citalopram toxicity.
  • Finnegan scores provide an objective measure for assessing infant intoxication severity.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the need for vigilance in medication dispensing to prevent infant poisoning.
  • Screening methods for citalopram intoxication in infants may need refinement.
  • Understanding citalopram pharmacokinetics in neonates is vital for clinical management and treatment.
  • Utilizing Finnegan scores can standardize the evaluation of neurological symptoms in infant intoxications.
Abstract

Keywords:
CitalopramFinnegan scoresInfantIntoxicationSSRI

More Related Videos

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

27.2K
Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

6.9K

Related Concept Videos

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance01:23

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance

The elimination half-life and drug clearance of drugs following nonlinear kinetics can vary with dosage. The Michaelis-Menten parameters and drug concentration influence these factors. As the dose increases, the elimination half-life tends to lengthen, resulting in a reduction in clearance and a disproportionately larger area under the curve. The total clearance can be derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation for drugs following a one-compartment model.
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
449
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug 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...
111
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
91
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
109
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics 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...
111
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.7K