Tricyclic Antidepressant Toxicity in Pediatrics Follow-up

  • Author: Samara Soghoian, MD, MA; Chief Editor: Timothy E Corden, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 25, 2010
 

Further Inpatient Care

Patients with severe CNS toxicity or any cardiotoxicity should be admitted to an ICU setting. Patients should be monitored for at least 24 hours after the ECG findings normalize and alkalinization therapy is stopped.

All patients with suspected or confirmed cyclic antidepressant (CA) overdose should be admitted for cardiac monitoring for at least 12-24 hours. Patients may be admitted to a non-ICU ward for telemetry monitoring if they have persistent signs of mild-to-moderate anticholinergic toxicity (ie, resting tachycardia, mydriasis, behavioral changes, hyperthermia) without serious CNS or cardiac manifestations.

Patients with suspected overdose should be screened for suicidal behavior and admitted to a psychiatric facility, if indicated, once they are medically cleared.

Children with unintentional overdose should be admitted if inadequate supervision in the home is suspected or if adequate follow-up cannot be assured.

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Further Outpatient Care

Patients may be discharged from the emergency department (ED) if the ingestion was unintentional, if no signs or symptoms of cyclic antidepressant toxicity are evident during a minimum observation of 6-8 hours, if the parents are reliable, and if appropriate follow-up is assured.

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Transfer

All serious pediatric cyclic antidepressant overdoses should be admitted to a pediatric ICU. Transfer may be indicated after the patient has been stabilized if the treating hospital has no such facility.

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Deterrence/Prevention

Prevention remains the first line of defense against all pediatric ingestions. Important prevention measures include child-resistant packaging of all medications, proper storage of medications in the home, education of parents and children as to the risks and proper use of medications, and easy access to poison control center information.

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Prognosis

Approximately 70% of intentional cyclic antidepressant overdoses may be fatal prior to arrival in the ED. However, among patients who present for medical treatment, serious complications are rare compared with the total number of toxic ingestions, and in-hospital mortality is as low as 2-3%. With early recognition and aggressive treatment, a good outcome can be expected.

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Patient Education

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Poisoning - First Aid and Emergency Center, Substance Abuse Center, and Mental Health and Behavior Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Poisoning, Drug Overdose, Activated Charcoal, and Poison Proofing Your Home.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Samara Soghoian, MD, MA  Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center

Samara Soghoian, MD, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American College of Medical Toxicology, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Christopher I Doty, MD, FACEP, FAAEM  Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Residency Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

Christopher I Doty, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Frank Anthony Maffei, MD, FAAP  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Temple University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Janet Weis Children's Hospital at Geisinger Health System

Frank Anthony Maffei, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Heidi Connolly, MD  Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry; Director, Pediatric Sleep Medicine Services, Strong Sleep Disorders Center

Heidi Connolly, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Thoracic Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Michael E Mullins, MD  Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Michael E Mullins, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Johnson & Johnson stock ownership None; Savient Pharmaceuticals stock ownership None

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey R Tucker, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Disclosure: Merck Salary Employment

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP  Consulting Staff, Freeman Pediatric Care, Freeman Health System

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Osteopathy, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Timothy E Corden, MD  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Co-Director, Policy Core, Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin; Associate Director, PICU, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Timothy E Corden, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Phi Beta Kappa, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Wisconsin Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Toxicity, antidepressant. ECG shows the terminal R wave in aVR and the widened QRS complex associated with tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) toxicity.
 
 
 
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