[Poisoning with clonidin hydrochloride in children and adults]

In this study clinical findings are presented of 31 patients with clonidinee intoxication and the therapeutic measures taken in these cases are discussed. In toddlers poisoning is seen after ingestion of a single tablet of 150 micrograms clonidine, whilst in adults poisoning may occur already at a dosage just exceeding the therapeutic limit, which is subject to wide individual variation (1 to 3 tablets). Primary elimination procedures must be instituted at these dosages, but, because of the rapid absorption of clonidine, gastric lavage and induced emesis provide no benefit to patients with complete symptomatology or those who took the overdose several hours before. Chlorpromazine-like effects, hypotension and bradycardia proved to be the outstanding features. Respiratory depression, disturbances of myocardial conduction or hypertension were less frequent. Symptoms lasted for a mean of 15.5 +/- 8.6 hours, with a range of 4 to 36 hours. Fluid therapy and, as necessary, dopamine for hypotension, phentolamine for hypertension and atropine for bradycardia caused prompt improvement in addition to essential measures such as meticulous control of respiratory function, body temperature and of ECG changes. There was no need to implement the central clonidine antagonist, tolazoline in any of these cases.