Abstract
The management of life-threatening beta-blocker toxicity and its associated low cardiac output state is clinically challenging. Previous case reports and case series describe the use of hyperinsulinemia/euglycemia therapy in mono-ingestions of calcium channel blockers and mixed ingestions, including calcium channel and beta-blockers. In this case report we describe the use of high-dose insulin (10 IU/kg per hour) in a case of massive metoprolol ingestion (5 g) in which hypotension was unresponsive to conventional therapies. Although the metoprolol concentrations measured in plasma were approximately 100–200 times therapeutic concentrations, the pharmacokinetics appeared to be similar to therapeutic metoprolol dosing.
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Geoff Isbister is funded by an NHMRC Clinical Career Development Award ID300785.
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Page, C.B., Hacket, L.P. & Isbister, G.K. The use of high-dose insulin-glucose euglycemia in beta-blocker overdose: A case report. J. Med. Toxicol. 5, 139–143 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161225
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161225