Calcium channel blocker toxicity

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Calcium channel blocker toxicity
Lipid emulsion therapy
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Hypotension, bradycardia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, hyperglycemia
Complications	Cardiac arrest, shock, metabolic acidosis
Onset	Within hours of overdose
Duration	Variable, depending on severity and treatment
Types	N/A
Causes	Overdose of calcium channel blockers
Risks	Polypharmacy, renal impairment, liver impairment
Diagnosis	Clinical evaluation, blood tests, electrocardiogram
Differential diagnosis	Beta blocker toxicity, digoxin toxicity, myocardial infarction
Prevention	Careful dosing, monitoring in high-risk patients
Treatment	Activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, calcium, vasopressors, insulin therapy, lipid emulsion therapy
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, depends on dose and timeliness of treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity

Lipid emulsion therapy is used in the treatment of calcium channel blocker toxicity.

Calcium channel blocker toxicity is a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from an overdose of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), a class of medications commonly used to treat hypertension, angina, and certain cardiac arrhythmias.

Pathophysiology

Calcium channel blockers work by inhibiting the influx of calcium ions through voltage-gated calcium channels in the heart and vascular smooth muscle. This action leads to decreased myocardial contractility, reduced heart rate, and vasodilation. In the case of an overdose, these effects are exaggerated, leading to severe hypotension, bradycardia, and potentially cardiogenic shock.

Clinical Presentation

Patients with calcium channel blocker toxicity may present with a variety of symptoms, including:

• Severe hypotension
• Bradycardia
• Dizziness
• Syncope
• Confusion
• Hyperglycemia

In severe cases, patients may develop cardiac arrest or multi-organ failure.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of calcium channel blocker toxicity is primarily clinical, based on the history of ingestion and presenting symptoms. Laboratory tests may show elevated blood glucose levels and metabolic acidosis. ECG findings may include bradycardia and conduction delays.

Treatment

The management of calcium channel blocker toxicity involves several steps:

Initial Stabilization

• Ensure adequate airway, breathing, and circulation.
• Administer intravenous fluids to support blood pressure.

Specific Therapies

• Calcium: Administer intravenous calcium (calcium chloride or calcium gluconate) to counteract the effects of calcium channel blockade.
• Vasopressors: Use vasopressors such as norepinephrine to maintain blood pressure.
• High-dose insulin therapy: Administer high-dose insulin and glucose to improve cardiac contractility and peripheral perfusion.
• Lipid emulsion therapy: Intravenous lipid emulsion can be used as a "lipid sink" to sequester lipophilic drugs, as shown in the image.

Prognosis

The prognosis of calcium channel blocker toxicity depends on the amount ingested, the time to treatment, and the specific agent involved. Early recognition and aggressive treatment improve outcomes.

See also

• Calcium channel blocker
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Hypertension
• Lipid emulsion therapy

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