title: Life-threatening dextromethorphan intoxication associated with interaction with amitriptyline in a poor CYP2D6 metabolizer: a single case re-exposure study.
abstract: We report a case of life-threatening intoxication and a controlled re-exposure study to dextromethorphan. A 60-year-old man developed postsurgical neuropathic cervical pain treated by hydromorphone, gabapentin, clonazepam, and amitriptyline. He received a dextromethorphan preparation for a catarrhal syndrome. Two days later, he was admitted into an emergency department in a profound coma. Thirty-six hours later, after withdrawal of all drugs, the situation normalized. A genotyping for UDP-glucuronyltransferase 1A1 and CYP2D6 was followed by a re-exposure study. During the three days, vital parameters and side effects of drugs were prospectively recorded. The second day, dextromethorphan was introduced. No significant impairment in parameters nor influence on analgesic efficacy were noted. Dextromethorphan concentrations suggested an accumulation without reaching any steady state. Somnolence was noted for plasma concentrations around 100ng/mL. The CYP2D6*4 variant leading to a poor metabolizer phenotype was found. Moreover, this phenotype was potentially aggravated by amitriptyline intake. This study allowed the identification and the confirmation of the cause of the coma. In conclusion, it is probably wise to recommend avoiding dextromethorphan in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants or another inhibitor of CYP2D6. Drug-drug interactions are probably underdiagnosed and underreported, and drugs considered as safe may induce serious complications.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Applied Molecular Technologies, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Patrice
authors: P
authors: Forget
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: le Polain de Waroux
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Wallemacq
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Gala
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D000639:Amitriptyline; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6