To report the efficacy of ondansetron in the treatment of a patient poisoned with theophylline.
PATIENT:
A 36-year-old man who ingested 6 g of sustained-release theophylline.
INTERVENTION:
Ondansetron 8 mg intravenously after clinical failure of other antiemetics.
RESULTS:
Subjective relief of nausea within minutes, enabling the patient to tolerate multiple doses of activated charcoal and whole bowel irrigation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ondansetron may offer an alternative to present antiemetic therapy in the poisoned patient.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
EllenhornMJBarcelouxDG. Medical toxicology. New York: Elsevier, 1988: 200–8.
2.
BerlingerWGSpectorRGoldbergMJJohnsonGFQueeCKBergMJ. Enhancement of theophylline clearance by oral activated charcoal. Clin Pharmacol Ther1983; 33: 351–4.
3.
BrownSGAPrenticeDA. Ondansetron in the treatment of theophylline overdose (letter). Med J Aust1992; 156: 512.
4.
ColdJAWellsBGFroemmingJH. Seizure activity associated with antipsychotic therapy. DICP Ann Pharmacother1990; 24: 601–6.
5.
GunningSJHaganRMTyersMB. Cisplatin-induced biochemical and histological changes in the small intestine of the ferret. Br J Pharmacol1987; 90 (suppl): 135P.
6.
IrelandSJTyersMB. Pharmacological characterisation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced depolarisation of the rat isolated vagus nerve. Br J Pharmacol1987; 90: 229–38.
7.
TyersMBBunceKTHumphreyPPA. Pharmacological and antiemetic properties of ondansetron. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol1989; 25 (suppl 1): S15–9.
8.
LarijaniGEGratzIAfsharMMinassianS. Treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting with ondansetron: A randomized double-blind comparison with placebo. Anesth Analg1991; 73: 246–9.
9.
GandaraDR. Progress in the control of acute and delayed emesis induced by cisplatin. Eur J Cancer1991; 27 (suppl 1): S9–S11.
10.
MitchellPLREvansBDAllenSGForgesonGVMakDNeaveL. Ondansetron reduces chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting refractory to standard antiemetics. N Z Med J1992; 105: 73–5.
11.
PriestmanTJ. Clinical studies with ondansetron in the control of radiation-induced emesis. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol1989; 25 (suppl 1): S29–S33.
12.
HigginsGAKilpatrickGJBunceKTJonesBJTyersMB. 5HT3 receptor antagonists injected into the area postrema inhibit cisplatin-induced emesis in the ferret. Br J Pharmacol1989; 97: 247–55.
13.
ReedMDMarxCM. Ondansetron: Optimal antiemetic therapy for the poisoned patient (abstract). Vet Hum Tox1992; 34: 336.