Adverse cardiac manifestations following dextropropoxyphene overdose: can naloxone be helpful?

Author(s): Hantson P, Evenepoel M, Ziade D, Hassoun A, Mahieu P

Affiliation(s): Department of Emergency and Intensive Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.

Publication date & source: 1995-02, Ann Emerg Med., 25(2):263-6.

Publication type: Case Reports

Dextropropoxyphene overdose may be complicated by serious cardiovascular manifestations, including conduction abnormalities and collapse. We report two patients in whom cardiac toxicity developed. Cardiovascular depression seemed to be improved after naloxone infusion in these two cases. Possible mechanisms are briefly discussed.