Hemodiafiltration: A novel approach for treating severe amitriptyline intoxication

Abstract

Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is one of the most common cause of serious drug poisonings. Sometimes amitriptyline intoxication can be difficult to treat with standard treatments. At that case hemodiafiltration (HD) can be an eligible choice. We report a successful treatment of severe case using hemodiafiltration in addition to the supportive measures. Management with gastric lavage, activated charcoal, alkalinization and supportive care is the common approach and not enough for patients in deep coma. We satisfied that HD may have a beneficial role in lethal doses of amitriptyline as an additional therapy.