title: Intravenous bretylium overdose.
abstract: An 81.5-mg/kg intravenous overdose of bretylium tosylate was administered to a 74-year-old patient after resuscitation from inferior wall myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest. The patient exhibited prolonged neurological depression with eventual neurological recovery. This case demonstrates the central nervous system depression that can occur with bretylium overdose. The emergency physician should be aware of this effect and avoid ending lifesaving measures because of apparent brain death in patients with bretylium overdose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA 23708.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Munter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D001950:Bretylium Tosylate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation
chemical_list: D001950:Bretylium Tosylate