Too many pills to swallow: A case of a mixed overdose

Abstract

Propranolol is a highly lipid-soluble beta-receptor antagonist. We describe a case of mixed overdose, including propranolol, amlodipine and olanzapine, resulting in severe resistant hypotension which was successfully treated. A 21-year-old student ingested 6.4 g of propranolol, 280 mg of amlodipine and 560 mg of olanzapine. The patient was brought to the emergency department and exhibited signs of severe systemic toxicity - profound hypotension and circulatory collapse, respiratory depression and coma. The patient had conventional therapy but failed to respond to this and was therefore commenced on IntraLipid infusion, high-dose insulin infusion and inotrope infusion. An endoscopy was performed in intensive care which revealed a large drug beozar - this was removed. We believe that this combination of infusions with early endoscopy could be beneficial in treating similar patients in the future and present the first case of a propranolol drug bezoar.