Bilateral Pallidal Necrosis and Cardiac Toxicity in a Patient With Venlafaxine and Bupropion Overdose

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Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Communications and UpdatesFull AccessBilateral Pallidal Necrosis and Cardiac Toxicity in a Patient With Venlafaxine and Bupropion OverdoseYu-Hsuan Lin, M.D., Eason Huang, M.D., and Yi-Ling Chien, M.D.Yu-Hsuan LinSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., Eason HuangSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., and Yi-Ling ChienSearch for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:1 Sep 2012https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11111708AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail To the Editor: The new generation of antidepressants is generally thought to be safer than traditional antidepressants. Although combining antidepressants is recommended for the treatment of refractory depression, the toxicity of drug overdose from more than one antidepressant is seldom addressed.Case ReportA 30-year-old woman was sent to the emergency department 1 hour after ingesting venlafaxine and bupropion in a suicide attempt. The exact dose was uncertain, but according to the metabolites of venlafaxine, bupropion, and benzodiazepine found in her urine, it is probable that she consumed a 1-month prescription of 150 mg venlafaxine, 300 mg bupropion, and 3 mg lorazepam that was prescribed 3 days earlier.She had clear consciousness initially, but generalized myoclonus soon occurred. A fever (40.6°C) and tachycardia (100–170 bpm) developed with normal blood pressure (122/91 mmHg), respiratory rate (16/min), and O2 saturation (SpO2=95%). An ECG demonstrated prolonged QRS complex with a deep, slurred S wave on lead I and an R wave on lead aVR. Sodium bicarbonate was then administrated.One hour later, the patient became drowsy and confused and she suffered respiratory distress. Her blood pressure decreased (94/36 mmHg), tachycardia increased (200 bpm), and SpO2 decreased (49%). Endotracheal intubation was performed within 5 minutes, and her SpO2 and blood pressure returned to normal. After sodium bicarbonate treatment, the patient recovered from the changes seen on the ECG. However, leukocytosis (10.27×109/L), elevated creatine kinase (520 U/L) and creatinin (1.5 mg/dL) levels, and changes in vital signs suggested serotonin syndrome. Cyprohepadine was provided with supportive treatment; intravenous lorazepam was also given continuously for agitated behavior. Fever and disturbed consciousness ameliorated within 2 days, but creatine kinase and alanine transaminase levels continued to increase, peaking at 107,895 U/L and 2,453 U/L around 43 and 102 hours, respectively, after overdose. The patient was extubated 7 days later.One week after extubation, purposeful involuntary movement and akathisia were noted after discontinuing lorazepam. Suspecting benzodiazepine withdrawal, lorazepam was resumed with pramipexole, 0.75mg/day, until the akathisia subsided 2 weeks later. The choreoathetosis remained, with frontal releasing signs (i.e., Luria test, glabellar reflex) and impaired recent memory, language, and executive function. An MRI scan revealed bilateral pallidal necrosis 7 weeks after admission (Figure 1 and Figure 2).FIGURE 1. T1-Weighted MRI Showing Mixed Hypointensity and Hyperintensity in the Globus Pallidus BilaterallyFIGURE 2. T2 Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery MRI Showing Symmetrical Hyperintensity Lesions in the Globus Pallidus Bilaterally and a Mild Negative Mass EffectDiscussionA limited number of reports of antidepressant overdose-related bilateral pallidal necrosis have been published. Szólics et al. (1) reported similar pallidal necrosis with multiple functional changes and extrapyramidal symptoms after fluoxetine overdose, implying a complex relationship between serotonin and the nigrastriatal dopaminergic system. The bilateral pallidal necrosis in our patient could have been caused by transient hypoxia, but the toxicity of venlafaxine and/or bupropion could not be excluded. It is therefore worth being cautious when prescribing venlafaxine concomitantly with bupropion for patients at high risk of deliberate overdose. Furthermore, neuroimaging is recommended for patients with prolonged extrapyramidal symptoms and cognitive change after serotonin syndrome or antidepressant overdose.Taipei, TaiwanThe authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.Reference1 Szólics M, Chaudhry M, Ljubisavljevic M, Corr P, Samir HA, van Gorkom KN: Neuroimaging findings in a case of fluoxetine overdose. J Neuroradiol (Epub ahead of print, Dec 22 2011)Google Scholar FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited ByPostmortem magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral globi pallidi lesions in a death associated with prolonged carbon monoxide poisoning: a case report14 January 2021 | International Journal of Legal Medicine, Vol. 135, No. 3Bupropion-associated movement disorders: A systematic reviewAnnals of Movement Disorders, Vol. 3, No. 2Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 60, No. 6 Volume 169Issue 9 September 2012Pages 993-994 Metrics PDF download History Accepted 1 May 2012 Published online 1 September 2012 Published in print 1 September 2012