Sustained-release bupropion overdose: a new entity for Australian emergency departments.
Bupropion hydrochloride (Zyban, Glaxo Wellcome Australia, Melbourne, Vic., Australia) was released in Australia in November 2000 as adjunctive therapy to assist with smoking cessation, having previously been used as an antidepressant in the US since 1989. The toxicity profile of bupropion hydrochloride in overdose differs considerably from other antidepressants, with prominent neurological manifestations and little cardiovascular toxicity. A case of bupropion overdose demonstrating the typical toxic syndrome is presented, together with a review of the literature and a discussion of the magnitude of the demand for bupropion and of the potential differences in presentation of overdoses in Australia.
Paoloni
Richard
R
Department of Emergency Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. richard.paoloni@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Szekely
Ilona
I
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D016642:Bupropion / Q000506:poisoning*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016642:Bupropion