Introduction
Venlafaxine is a selective serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor (SNRI), used in the treatment of depressive illness and anxiety disorder. Overdose may result in cardiac and neurotoxicity, but there are very few case reports of fatal isolated Venlafaxine overdose.1 The following case highlights the potentially serious consequences of overdose of this drug.
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References
- Buckley M, McManus P; Fatal toxicity of serotoninergic and other antidepressant drugs: analysis of United Kingdom mortality data. BMJ 2002; 325: 1332-3
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3582368.stm. Antidepressant deaths increase. August 20th 2004. Accessed 28/8/05
- Shaw MW, Sheard JD. Fatal Venlafaxine overdose with acinar zone 3 liver cell necrosis. Am j Forensic Med Pathology. 2005 Dec; 26(4): 367-8
- Mazur JE et al. Fatality related to a 30 g Venlafaxine overdose. Pharmacotherapy. 2003 Dec; 23(12): 1668-72.
- Banham NDG; Fatal venlafaxine overdose. Med J Aust. 1998; 169: 445-448
- Blythe D, Hackett LP. Cardiovascular and neurological toxicisty of venlafaxine. Human Exp Toxicol. 1999; 18(5): 309-313
- http://www.spib.axl.co.uk/toxbaseindex.htm: Venlafaxine. Accessed 28/8/05
- Kirk C Mills Newer antidepressants and serotonin syndrome. In: Tintinalli, Kelen and Stapcynzski, EDS. Emergency Medicine: A Study Guide. New York: McGraw Hill, 2004: 1033-39.
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