Acute oral poisoning with lindane-solvent mixtures

Six cases of oral intoxication with lindane-solvent mixtures are reviewed. The ingested doses of lindane (mean dosage 120 mg/kg +/- 86 mg/kg) and benzene (mean dosage 366 mg/kg +/- 93 mg/kg) exceeded the toxic level. Symptoms (vomiting, dizziness and hyperreflexia) occurred within 30 min and all patients had epileptiform seizures. Two patients suffered from pulmonary edema and one of them had a severe rhabdomyolysis. Diazepam was sufficient to control convulsions in five cases. Gastric lavage was performed in five patients and activated charcoal, liquid paraffin with saline cathartic, and cholestyramine were used as adsorbents. Recovery was complete in all patients.