title: Venlafaxine ingestion is associated with rhabdomyolysis in adults: a case series.
abstract: Rhabdomyolysis has been reported after venlafaxine ingestion. We wished to characterize the prevalence of this adverse effect in a realistic clinical setting. Therefore, a retrospective casenote review was performed, including 235 patients admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh due to venlafaxine overdose between January 2000 and June 2006. Seizures occurred in 8.9% of the study population. Patients who suffered seizures had ingested larger quantities of venlafaxine than those who did not develop seizures; median (interquartile range) 2800 mg (2006-4350 mg) versus 1500 mg (900-2700 mg, p = 0.001). Raised CK values were more prevalent in those with seizures than those without seizures (61.1% versus 25.7% respectively, p = 0.004). Nonetheless, a positive correlation was found between the quantity of venlafaxine ingested and CK across the whole group (rho = 0.201, 95% confidence interval 0.045-0.347), and in patients who had not developed seizures (rho = 0.174, 95% confidence interval 0.009-0.331). Venlafaxine overdose is associated with a high prevalence of acute muscle injury, both in patients who develop seizures and in those who do not. The clinical significance of this association merits further consideration.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Waring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride