Tricyclic antidepressants. Prolonged plasma levels after overdose.
Twenty-four patients hospitalized for overdose of a tricyclic antidepressant were monitored clinically, and serial plasma-drug measurements were taken for up to 144 hours. Six of 24 patients had maximum antidepressant plasma levels greater than or equal to 1,000 ng/ml, and their plasma levels at 96 hours ranged from 170 to 1,280 ng/ml. Patients ingesting substantial tricyclic overdoses may remain medically unstable for days. When high tricyclic levels persist, accurate psychiatric assessment is often impossible.
D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006207:Half-Life; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000639:Amitriptyline