Treatment of caffeine toxicity with esmolol.
We present the case of a 58-year-old woman who ingested more than 35 g of caffeine in a suicide attempt. She manifested all the clinical symptoms and signs of caffeine toxicity. Esmolol, an ultrashort-acting beta 1-selective antagonist, controlled her multiple dysrhythmias and symptoms of sympathetic nervous system hyperstimulation. We suggest the use of esmolol for treatment of dysrhythmias secondary to caffeine toxicity; to the best of our knowledge, the use of esmolol has not been reported for this purpose.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oaklawn, Illinois 60453.
K R
KR
Price
D J
DJ
Fligner
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000506:poisoning*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; D002110:Caffeine; C036604:esmolol