TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Colchicine overdose - The need for a specific antidote
JO  - Hospital pharmacy
A1  - Fagan, N.L.
A1  - Wear, R.E.
A1  - Malesker, M.A.
A1  - Morrow, L.E.
A1  - Schuller, D.
SP  - 49
EP  - 53
VL  - 45
IS  - 1
N2  - PURPOSE: To report the case of a colchicine overdose to highlight current limitations in the treatment of this toxicologic emergency. Summary: A 23-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after attempting suicide via polypharmacy ingestion, which included 80 to 100 colchicine 0.6 mg tablets (approximately 0.9 mg/kg of body weight). He was taken to the emergency department where gastric decontamination was initiated. Because attempts to obtain a colchicine-specific antibody fragment (Fab) were unsuccessful, only supportive therapies were provided throughout his hospitalization. Over the course of several days, the patient experienced the 3 separate evolutionary phases of colchicine toxicity ultimately leading to multiple organ failure and hemodynamic collapse, and death. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Acute colchicine intoxication is a rare, but potentially life-threatening event. Although 1 case report demonstrated the successful use of a colchicine-specific Fab fragment in the management of acute colchicine overdose, there is presently no commercially-available antidote for colchicine toxicity. Prompt recognition of the overdose, aggressive gastrointestinal decontamination, and supportive therapies directed at the multi-organ failure remain the standard of care.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0018-5787
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1310/hpj4501-49
ID  - ref1
ER  -