Hypoglycemic Coma Induced by the Use of Succinic Acid Cibenzoline in Frail Late-stage Elderly Subjects

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 56; no. 12; pp. 1527 - 1529
• Main Authors: Hirata, Yurie, Kamei, Shinji, Tatsumi, Fuminori, Shimoda, Masashi, Tanabe, Akihito, Sanada, Junpei, Fushimi, Yoshiro, Irie, Shintaro, Mune, Tomoatsu, Kaku, Kohei, Kaneto, Hideaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 01.01.2017; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - adverse effects; Case Report; Coma; Coma - chemically induced; Diabetes mellitus; drug concentration; Female; Geriatrics; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Hypoglycemia - chemically induced; hypoglycemic coma; Imidazoles - adverse effects; Internal medicine; Male; Renal function; Succinic acid; succinic acid cibenzoline; Tachyarrhythmia; succinic acid cibenzoline; hypoglycemic coma; drug concentration
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.56.8120

Succinic acid cibenzoline (CZ) is an antiarrhythmic agent often used for the treatment of tachyarrhythmia. However, hypoglycemia should be avoided in the treatment of diabetes. We herein report two late-stage elderly subjects who experienced a severe and prolonged hypoglycemic coma after the usage of CZ. These cases suggest that, when CZ is administered to elderly subjects with renal dysfunction and/or frailty, we should be aware of the possibility that this medicine may induce hypoglycemia and should adjust the dose as appropriate and monitor the concentration of CZ to avoid severe hypoglycemia.