title: Outcomes after supratherapeutic escitalopram ingestions.
abstract: Escitalopram (ESC) is a new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used in the treatment of depression. There are limited data regarding accidental and intentional ESC exposure. We conducted a retrospective chart review of isolated ESC ingestions reported to our regional poison center during 2003-2004. Twenty-eight patients met inclusion criteria. The average patient age was 28.1 years (range 2-75 years) and the average amount of ESC ingested was 62.5 mg (range 5-300 mg from 19 cases). The most common formulation ingested was the 20-mg tablet. There were eight accidental ingestions and 20 intentional overdoses. Six of the eight accidental ingestions were observed at home with follow-up in 24 h, and no adverse outcomes were reported. The other two accidental overdoses were observed in the Emergency Department (ED) and discharged home with no adverse events reported. Nineteen of the intentional overdoses were observed in the ED for approximately 4-6 h and discharged home or to an inpatient psychiatry ward. One of the intentional overdose patients was admitted for persistent lethargy, but had a good outcome. ESC toxicity can theoretically be life threatening, but no patients in our series had adverse sequealae after accidental or intentional overdose.
authors.affiliation: Banner Good Samaritan Regional Poison Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85006, USA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: LoVecchio
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winchell
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDowell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015283:Citalopram / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors