Fatal Intoxication with Amlodipine

Abstract

Although poisoning with calcium channel blocking agents is frequent, to our knowledge no cases involving amlodipine have been published. We describe here a case of amlodipine intoxication, in which protracted hypotension did not respond to vasopressor therapy alone. After the addition of continuous calcium chloride and glucagon infusion, blood pressure was restored and vasopressor therapy could be tapered off substantially. When calcium and glucagon were interrupted because of severe hypercalcemia and hyperglycemia, the patient developed irreversible hypotension and died. Either glucagon or calcium or both, and to some extent vasopressors, seem to have constituted effective treatment of hypotension in this case.