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Clinical Description of Overdose, Death, and Review of Pharmacology

Dennis L. Simpson, MD; Barry H. Rumack, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1981;141(11):1507-1509.

Abstract
Methylenedioxyamphetamine is a commonly used "street drug," with a reputation of providing a "good trip." The drug is structurally similar to both mescaline and amphetamine. The following symptoms were found in a patient: sympathomimetic effects, coma, seizures, hyperreflexia, and hyperthermia. The patient's condition was initially stabilized and then deteriorated with uncontrollable hyperthermia, hematologic abnormalities, and coma that culminated in death. Since the hyperthermia is based on both central and peripheral mechanisms, phentolamine (Regitine) mesylate may be the preferred drug to be used in the treatment of future cases. The concept that this drug is primarily a hallucinogen with mild toxicity is erroneous.

(Arch Intern Med 1981;141:1507-1509)

Author Affiliations
From the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine (Drs Simpson and Rumack), the B. F. Stolinsky Laboratories (Dr Rumack), the Rocky Mountain Poison Center (Dr Rumack), and the Denver General Hospital (Dr Rumack), Denver.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Sept 23, 1980.

Reprint requests to University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E Ninth Ave, Box C-233, Denver, CO 80262 (Dr Rumack).

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