title: Successful use of haemodialysis to treat phenobarbital overdose.
abstract: A 50-year-old woman presented with coma caused by a phenobarbital overdose, requiring intubation and admission to critical care. She was an international visitor and had been prescribed the drug for night-sedation. Phenobarbital is a long-acting barbiturate, which in an overdose can cause central nervous system depression, respiratory failure and haemodynamic instability; these patients can remain obtunded for many days. After initial supportive therapy, she was dialysed to help in the elimination of the drug. Haemodialysis resulted in a markedly reduced plasma level of phenobarbital, which decreased the length of intubation and stay in the critical care unit and aided full recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoyland
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wildman
mesh_terms: D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010634:Phenobarbital