TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Dangerous mistake: an accidental caffeine overdose JO - BMJ case reports A1 - Andrade, Ana A1 - Sousa, Catarina A1 - Pedro, Mónica A1 - Fernandes, Martinho SP - e224185 EP - e224185 VL - 2018 IS - N2 - Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a natural product commonly presented in food's composition, beverages and medicinal products. Generally, it is thought to be safe under normal dosage, yet it can be fatal in case of severe intoxication. We report a case of a healthy 32-year-old woman who went to the local emergency department (ED) 30 min after ingesting, accidentally, 5000 mg of anhydrous caffeine for a preworkout supplement. At the ED, she presented an episode of presyncope followed by agitation. ECG showed polymorphic broad complex QRS tachycardia and arterial blood gas revealed metabolic acidaemia with severe hypokalemia. The dysrhythmia was successfully treated with intravenous propranolol. Acid-base and hydroelectrolytic disorders were also corrected. A persistent sinus tachycardia was observed in the first 2 days in the ward and 5 days later she was discharged asymptomatic with internal medicine follow-up.

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Language: en

LA - en SN - 1757-790X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-224185 ID - ref1 ER -