Adalat GITS 30 Overdosage

Symptoms: The following symptoms are observed in cases of severe nifedipine intoxication: Disturbances of consciousness to the point of coma, a drop in blood pressure, tachycardiac/bradycardiac heart rhythm disturbances, hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, hypoxia, cardiogenic shock with pulmonary edema.
Treatment: As far as treatment is concerned, elimination of the active substance and the restoration of stable cardiovascular conditions have priority.
After oral ingestion, thorough gastric lavage is indicated, if necessary, in combination with irrigation of the small intestine. Particularly, in cases of intoxication with slow-release products eg, Adalat GITS 30, elimination must be as complete as possible, including the small intestine to prevent the otherwise inevitable subsequent absorption of the active substance.
Hemodialysis serves no purpose as nifedipine is not dialyzable, but plasmapheresis is advisable (high plasma protein-binding, relatively low volume of distribution).
Bradycardiac heart rhythm disturbances may be treated symptomatically with β-sympathomimetics, and in life-threatening bradycardiac disturbances of heart rhythm, temporary pacemaker therapy can be advisable.
Hypotension as a result of cardiogenic shock and arterial vasodilation can be treated with calcium (10-20 mL of a 10% calcium gluconate solution administered slowly IV and repeated if necessary). As a result, the serum calcium can reach the upper normal range to slightly elevated levels. If an insufficient increase in blood pressure is achieved with calcium, vasoconstricting sympathomimetics eg, dopamine or noradrenaline are additionally administered. The dosage of these drugs is determined solely by the effect obtained.
Additional liquid or volume must be administered with caution because of the danger of overloading the heart.