The use of ethamivan in the treatment of barbiturate poisoning.
Ethamivan was used as a respiratory analeptic in the treatment of nine cases of severe barbiturate poisoning. Initial intravenous injections of 100 to 150 mg. of ethamivan increased the depth of respirations within a minute. Prolonged respiratory stimulation was achieved by a continuous intravenous infusion of 500 to 3000 mg. of ethamivan per litre of fluid. If hypotension occurred, an intravenous drip of noradrenaline was used; fluid overloading was avoided by adjusting the concentrations of drugs given, so that no more than a total of 125 c.c. of fluid per hour was administered. The chief side effect of overdosage of ethamivan was muscular twitching. This did not prove to be a problem and was of some value in determining the amount of drug given. The nine patients survived. It was concluded that ethamivan is a useful agent in the treatment of barbiturate poisoning.
D001463:Barbiturates / Q000633:toxicity*; D001549:Benzamides; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension; D012119:Respiration
D001463:Barbiturates; D001549:Benzamides; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; C100268:ethamivan; C032232:barbituric acid
ANALEPTICS; BARBITURATE TOXICOLOGY