odchloralhydrate
chloral hydrate overdose
see also:
introduction
- chloral hydrate is a sedative hypnotic agent which acts via GABA receptors and is metabolised by RBC's to trichloroethanol within ~4 minutes, and then hours later is metabolised further to trichloroacetic acid.
- overdoses > 3-10g in an adult can be fatal via a variety of mechanisms including:
- cardiotoxicity - VT/VF (avoid use of sympathomimetics to maintain BP)
- hypotension
- GIT erosive effects
- hepatotoxicity
- nephrotoxicity
- CNS depression, especially when combined with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates
- long-term use of chloral hydrate is associated with a rapid development of tolerance to its effects and possible addiction as well as adverse effects including rashes, gastric discomfort and severe renal, cardiac and hepatic failure.
odchloralhydrate.txt · Last modified: 2011/08/14 05:01 by 127.0.0.1