Repetitive Oral Activated Charcoal and Control of Emesis in Severe Theophylline Toxicity
- YONA AMITAI, M.D.;
- ALAN C. YEUNG, M.D.;
- JACK MOYE, M.D.; and
- FREDERICK H. LOVEJOY, Jr., M.D.
- The Children's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston City Hospital; Boston, Massachusetts
Excerpt
Treatment with multiple doses of oral activated charcoal increases theophylline clearance in patients receiving theophylline therapy and in patients with mild theophylline toxicity (1-3). However, patients with severe theophylline toxicity have persistent vomiting and are unable to tolerate oral activated charcoal (3, 4). Theophylline may induce vomiting by increasing the volume of gastric secretion (5). The control of xanthine-induced gastric hypersecretion and vomiting therefore may include administration of H2 antagonists (6). We report the cases of two patients with severe theophylline toxicity and vomiting that was controlled by ranitidine and droperidol; multiple doses of oral activated charcoal were tolerated by
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
Acknowledgments
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Grant support: in part by a grant from the McNeil Consumer Products Company (Dr. Amitai).
Article and Author Information
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Yona Amitai, M.D.; Massachusetts Poison Control System, The Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave.; Boston, MA 02115.
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