Acebutolol overdose resulting in fatalities

• Published in: The Journal of emergency medicine Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 341 - 344
• Main Author: Love, Jeffrey N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: acebutolol; Acebutolol - poisoning; Adolescent; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - poisoning; Adult; beta blocker; Biological and medical sciences; Drug intoxications. Doping; Drug Overdose - diagnosis; Drug Overdose - drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electrocardiography; Emergency Service, Hospital; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; intoxication; Medical sciences; overdose; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; poisoning; Suicide, Attempted; overdose; acebutolol; poisoning; beta blocker; intoxication; Human; Prognosis; Arrhythmia; Drug intoxication; Cardiovascular disease; Acebutolol; Antiarrhythmic agent; Case study; Chemotherapy; Heart disease; Adolescent; Adult; Antihypertensive agent; Female; Diagnosis; Beta blocking agent
• ISSN: 0736-4679; 2352-5029
• DOI: 10.1016/S0736-4679(99)00225-5

Two fatal cases of Acebutolol intoxication are presented that demonstrate its clinical characteristics and potential lethality. A review of the literature suggests that acebutolol is one of the most toxic beta blockers when taken as an overdose. In addition to demonstrating characteristics of membrane-stabilizing activity, both fatal cases demonstrate significant QTc prolongation and ventricular tachycardia. The latter findings suggest an impact on ventricular repolarization not seen with Propranolol intoxication. Clarification of these findings has important implications regarding identification and treatment of this potentially fatal intoxication.