Large-scale digitoxin intoxication.
Journal: 1970/December - British Medical Journal
ISSN: 0007-1447
PUBMED: 5273245
Abstract:
Because of an error in the manufacture of digoxin tablets a large number of patients took tablets that contained 0.20 mg. of digitoxin and 0.05 mg. of digoxin instead of the prescribed 0.25 mg. of digoxin. The symptoms are described of 179 patients who took these tablets and suffered from digitalis intoxication. Of these patients, 125 had taken the faultily composed tablets for more than three weeks. In 48 patients 105 separate disturbances in rhythm or in atrioventricular conduction were observed on the electrocardiogram. Extreme fatigue and serious eye conditions were observed in 95% of the patients. Twelve patients had a transient psychosis. Extensive ophthalmological observations indicated that the visual complaints were most probably caused by a transient retrobulbar neuritis.
Relations:
Content
Citations
(14)
References
(18)
Diseases
(4)
Conditions
(6)
Drugs
(2)
Organisms
(1)
Similar articles
Articles by the same authors
Discussion board
Br Med J 3(5725): 737-740

Large-scale Digitoxin Intoxication

Abstract

Because of an error in the manufacture of digoxin tablets a large number of patients took tablets that contained 0·20 mg. of digitoxin and 0·05 mg. of digoxin instead of the prescribed 0·25 mg. of digoxin. The symptoms are described of 179 patients who took these tablets and suffered from digitalis intoxication. Of these patients, 125 had taken the faultily composed tablets for more than three weeks. In 48 patients 105 separate disturbances in rhythm or in atrioventricular conduction were observed on the electrocardiogram. Extreme fatigue and serious eye conditions were observed in 95% of the patients. Twelve patients had a transient psychosis. Extensive ophthalmological observations indicated that the visual complaints were most probably caused by a transient retrobulbar neuritis.

Full text

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (969K), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
  • CHURCH G, MARRIOTT HJ. Digitalis delirium: a report on three cases. Circulation. 1959 Oct;20:549–553. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • CHURCH G, SCHAMROTH L, SCHWARTZ NL, MARRIOTT HJ. Deliberate digitalis intoxication. A comparison of the toxic effects of four glycoside preparations. Ann Intern Med. 1962 Dec;57:946–956. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Cozijnsen M, Pinckers AJ. Oogheelkundige aspecten van digitoxine-intoxicatie. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1969 Oct 4;113(40):1735–1737. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • CROUCH RB, HEJTMANCIK MR, HERRMANN GR. Digitalis intoxication. Tex State J Med. 1956 Oct;52(10):714–718. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Dall JL. Digitalis intoxication. Am Heart J. 1965 Oct;70(4):572–574. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • DUBNOW MH, BURCHELL HB. A COMPARISON OF DIGITALIS INTOXICATION IN TWO SEPARATE PERIODS. Ann Intern Med. 1965 May;62:956–965. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Gotsman MS, Schrire V. Toxicity--a frequent complication of digitalis therapy. S Afr Med J. 1966 Jul 9;40(25):590–592. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Hurwitz N, Wade OL. Intensive hospital monitoring of adverse reactions to drugs. Br Med J. 1969 Mar 1;1(5643):531–536.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • KING JT. Digitalis delirium. Ann Intern Med. 1950 Dec;33(6):1360–1372. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Lely AH, van Enter CH, Pool J. Massale digitoxine-intoxicatie. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1969 Oct 4;113(40):1729–1733. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • LOWN B, MARCUS F, LEVINE HD. Digitalis and atrial tachycardia with block; a year's experience. N Engl J Med. 1959 Feb 12;260(7):301–309. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • RODENSKY PL, WASSERMAN F. Observations on digitalis intoxication. Arch Intern Med. 1961 Aug;108:171–188. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • RODOVA A, HOVOLA D. [On mental disorders in intoxication with Digitalis glycosides]. Cesk Psychiatr. 1959 Dec;55:357–361. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Rutledge DI, Haddad R. Digitalis intoxication: gastrointestinal manifestations. Med Clin North Am. 1966 Mar;50(2):501–506. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • SCHOELMERICH P, PABST K, JAHRREISS O, LANGE KP. NEBENWIRKUNGEN DER THERAPIE MIT HERZGLYKOSIDEN. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1964 Jan 3;89:12–18. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Shapiro S, Slone D, Lewis GP, Jick H. The epidemiology o digoxin. A study in three Boston hospitals. J Chronic Dis. 1969 Nov;22(5):361–371. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • VON CAPELLER D, COPELAND GD, STERN TN. Digitalis intoxication: a clinical report of 148 cases. Ann Intern Med. 1959 Apr;50(4):869–878. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Weenink HR, Lely AH, van Enter CH. Neuropsychiatrische afwijkingen door digitoxine-intoxicatie. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1969 Oct 4;113(40):1733–1735. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Abstract
Because of an error in the manufacture of digoxin tablets a large number of patients took tablets that contained 0·20 mg. of digitoxin and 0·05 mg. of digoxin instead of the prescribed 0·25 mg. of digoxin. The symptoms are described of 179 patients who took these tablets and suffered from digitalis intoxication. Of these patients, 125 had taken the faultily composed tablets for more than three weeks. In 48 patients 105 separate disturbances in rhythm or in atrioventricular conduction were observed on the electrocardiogram. Extreme fatigue and serious eye conditions were observed in 95% of the patients. Twelve patients had a transient psychosis. Extensive ophthalmological observations indicated that the visual complaints were most probably caused by a transient retrobulbar neuritis.
Collaboration tool especially designed for Life Science professionals.Drag-and-drop any entity to your messages.