Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report

Introduction Alendronate is a nitrogen-containing biphosphonate that inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption. Lethal dose (LD50) was aproximately 626mg/kg in male rats, and 552mg/kg in female. Signs and Symptoms of overdose clammy skin, CNS depression, dysphagia, hiccups, miosis, respiratory depress...

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Main Authors: T. Gutiérrez Higueras, F. Calera Cortés, S. Vicent Forés, S. Sainz De La Cuesta Alonso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2021-04-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821021878/type/journal_article
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author T. Gutiérrez Higueras
F. Calera Cortés
S. Vicent Forés
S. Sainz De La Cuesta Alonso
author_facet T. Gutiérrez Higueras
F. Calera Cortés
S. Vicent Forés
S. Sainz De La Cuesta Alonso
author_sort T. Gutiérrez Higueras
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Alendronate is a nitrogen-containing biphosphonate that inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption. Lethal dose (LD50) was aproximately 626mg/kg in male rats, and 552mg/kg in female. Signs and Symptoms of overdose clammy skin, CNS depression, dysphagia, hiccups, miosis, respiratory depression, seizures and wheezing. Supportive therapy and monitor of urine flow, calcium and phsophorous level is essential for the management of voluntary overdose. Objectives To present the case of a 76-year-old woman who made a suicide attempt by ingestion of 8 tablets of 70 mg of alendronate.To describe the treatment of alendronate poisoning and the follow-up parameters for the control of complications. Methods Clinical case presentation through retrospective review of clinical notes and non-systematic literature review. Results A 76-year-old woman was taken to the emergency department after voluntarily ingesting 8 alendronate tablets (70 mg per tablet) 1 hour ago reporting “suicidal thoughts”. After clinical evaluation, gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal, and IV ranitidine were used. After 24-hour observation and after psychiatric evaluation, the patient was discharged. Conclusions Hypocalcaemia, hypophosphataemia and upper gastrointestinal adverse reactions, such as upset stomach, heartburn, oesophagitis, gastritis, or ulcer, may result from oral overdose. In case of overdose with alendronate, milk or antacids should be given to bind alendronate. Giving milk or antacids, to bind the bisphosphonate and minimize absorption, has been suggested for oral overdose. Due to the risk of esophageal irritation, vomiting should not be induced and the patient should remain fully upright. For decontamination is recomended activated charcoal and gastric lavage. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-da07e3f943d841feb0d90f50c42c6e492023-11-17T05:07:07ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S828S82810.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2187Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case reportT. Gutiérrez Higueras0F. Calera Cortés1S. Vicent Forés2S. Sainz De La Cuesta Alonso3Clinical Unit Of Mental Health., Reina Sofia University Hospital., Córdoba., SpainClinical Unit Of Mental Health., Reina Sofia University Hospital., Córdoba., SpainClinical Unit Of Mental Health., Reina Sofia University Hospital., Córdoba., SpainClinical Unit Of Mental Health., Reina Sofia University Hospital., Córdoba., Spain Introduction Alendronate is a nitrogen-containing biphosphonate that inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption. Lethal dose (LD50) was aproximately 626mg/kg in male rats, and 552mg/kg in female. Signs and Symptoms of overdose clammy skin, CNS depression, dysphagia, hiccups, miosis, respiratory depression, seizures and wheezing. Supportive therapy and monitor of urine flow, calcium and phsophorous level is essential for the management of voluntary overdose. Objectives To present the case of a 76-year-old woman who made a suicide attempt by ingestion of 8 tablets of 70 mg of alendronate.To describe the treatment of alendronate poisoning and the follow-up parameters for the control of complications. Methods Clinical case presentation through retrospective review of clinical notes and non-systematic literature review. Results A 76-year-old woman was taken to the emergency department after voluntarily ingesting 8 alendronate tablets (70 mg per tablet) 1 hour ago reporting “suicidal thoughts”. After clinical evaluation, gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal, and IV ranitidine were used. After 24-hour observation and after psychiatric evaluation, the patient was discharged. Conclusions Hypocalcaemia, hypophosphataemia and upper gastrointestinal adverse reactions, such as upset stomach, heartburn, oesophagitis, gastritis, or ulcer, may result from oral overdose. In case of overdose with alendronate, milk or antacids should be given to bind alendronate. Giving milk or antacids, to bind the bisphosphonate and minimize absorption, has been suggested for oral overdose. Due to the risk of esophageal irritation, vomiting should not be induced and the patient should remain fully upright. For decontamination is recomended activated charcoal and gastric lavage. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821021878/type/journal_articlealendronateSuicideIntoxicationTreatment
spellingShingle T. Gutiérrez Higueras
F. Calera Cortés
S. Vicent Forés
S. Sainz De La Cuesta Alonso
Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report
European Psychiatry
alendronate
Suicide
Intoxication
Treatment
title Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report
title_full Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report
title_fullStr Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report
title_full_unstemmed Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report
title_short Alendronate overdose/intoxication: Suicidal attempt in a case report
title_sort alendronate overdose intoxication suicidal attempt in a case report
topic alendronate
Suicide
Intoxication
Treatment
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821021878/type/journal_article
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AT svicentfores alendronateoverdoseintoxicationsuicidalattemptinacasereport
AT ssainzdelacuestaalonso alendronateoverdoseintoxicationsuicidalattemptinacasereport