Successful management of bupropion poisoning: possible benefit of acidosis treatment

Year 2017, Volume: 3 Issue: 3, 290 - 294, 04.11.2017

İsmail Altıntop , Mehmet Tatlı

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.310619

Abstract

Bupropion is used as an antidepressant
and smoking cessation aid.
It has been described in the literature as a norepinephrine - dopamine reuptake
inhibitor and is also a nicotinic antagonist. Bupropion itself is not a common
cause of intoxication cases seen in Emergency Department (ED). The most
important side effect is an increase in risk for epileptic seizures. We aimed
to present the management of a 29-year-old female patient in ED with epileptic
seizures and acidosis due to bupropion intoxication,who had taken 30 bupropion
150 mg tablets and 16 fluoksetin 20 mg tablets for suicidal purpose. According
to her blood gas counts sodium bicarbonate therapy was begun in ED and after
having response to the treatment was continued in intensive care unit. She was
discharged three days later without any other seizures and complications.
Although bupropion intoxication is rare it can cause severe metabolic acidosis
and epileptic seizures. There is no specific antidote therapy to bupropion so
symptomatic therapy still have benefit.

Keywords

Bupropion intoxication, fluoxetine intoxication, seizure, acidosis

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