Herb-induced cardiotoxicity from accidental aconitine overdose

• Published in: Singapore medical journal Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. e116 - e119
• Main Authors: Sheth, Sujata, Tan, Elaine Ching Ching, Tan, Hock Heng, Tay, Leslie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Singapore Medical Association 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Aconitine - poisoning; Adult; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cardiotoxicity; Case Report; Drug Overdose; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - poisoning; Electric Countershock; Electrocardiography; Humans; Male; Tachycardia - chemically induced; Tachycardia, Ventricular - chemically induced; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Fibrillation - chemically induced; aconitine herb; overdose; cardiotoxic; aconite; bidirectional ventricular tachycardia

Patients who overdose on aconite can present with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Aconite must be prepared and used with caution to avoid cardiotoxic effects that can be fatal. We herein describe a case of a patient who had an accidental aconite overdose but survived with no lasting effects...