Barbiturate overdose is an uncommon presentation, but can cause profound and prolonged coma mimicking brain death. It is potentially lethal but recognition of the diagnosis and timely appropriate interventions will assure a good outcome.
References
- Frenia ML, Schauben JL, Wears RL et al. Multiple-dose activated charcoal compared to urinary alkalinization for the enhancement of phenobarbital elimination. Clinical Toxicology 1996; 34(2):169-175.
- Ebid A-HIM, Abdel-Rahman HM. Pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital during certain enhanced elimination modalities to evaluate their clinical efficacy in management of drug overdose. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 2001; 23(3):209-216.
- Pond SM, Olson KR, Osteroloh JD et al. Randomized study of the treatment of Phenobarbital overdose with repeated doses of activated charcoal. Journal of the American Medical Association 1984; 251(23):3104-3108.
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