Abstract
To Editor.— InThe Journal, Morris and Goldschlager1describe a beneficial response to intravenous (IV) calcium chloride in a patient who had verapamil-induced hypotension, low cardiac output, and bradycardia. While they stated that reversal of these adverse effects outweighed any possible vasodilating effect of calcium chloride, they cautioned against its use by stating that the potential vasodilating effect of IV calcium chloride infusion (but not gluconate, gluceptate, or lactate preparations) must be considered when using IV calcium to reverse adverse effects of verapamil, implying that these other preparations may be better. When using calcium gluconate to reverse verapamil overdosage, some authors have reported a poor response.2,3Furthermore, when IV calcium gluconate is compared with calcium chloride, body's retention of calcium is less,4extracellular ionized calcium increases less predictably,5and positive inotropic effect of equimolar amounts is not as great.6 If a
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