Acute Meprobamate Poisoning with Gastrotomy and Removal of a Drug-Containing Mass

Abstract

Meprobamate, a widely used sedative, causes an increasing percentage of poisonings,1 although deaths have been rare.2 , 3 Individual patient response varies — death has been reported after ingestion of 12 g,4 , 5 although patients have survived after ingestion of 38 to 40 g.6 , 7 Plasma levels between 6 and 10 mg per deciliter usually cause light coma, and 10 to 20 mg per deciliter deep coma.2 Meprobamate intoxication frequently produces severe hypotension, which is treated by plasma-volume expansion with colloid and crystalloid solutions and sympathomimetic drugs. Most patients require support of ventilation and blood pressure for only short periods; with larger doses, peritoneal . . .