Open AccessA Case of Unintentional Methadone Overdose Followed by Hypoglycaemia
Author(s) -
Fung HT,
Cheung KH,
Lam SK,
Wong OF,
Leung KL,
Leung SH
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490791101800409
Subject(s) - medicine , methadone , anesthesia , coma (optics) , emergency department , ingestion , drug overdose , accidental , intubation , emergency medicine , poison control , psychiatry , physics , acoustics , optics
Methadone overdose is expected to result in intoxication simulating the other opioids. We report a case of hypoglycaemia following accidental methadone ingestion. A 21‐year‐old woman presented to a local accident and emergency department 10 hours after ingestion of 800 mg of methadone. She was found to have coma, respiratory suppression, hypotension, prolonged QTc and hypoglycaemia. The hypoglycaemia was reversed by dextrose replacement. The patient required intubation and inotropic support because of cardio‐respiratory instability. She eventually recovered without consequence. To date, this is the first reported case of methadone overdose induced hypoglycaemia.