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    Z Kardiol. 1990 Jan;79(1):54-9.

    [Successful treatment of flecainide (Tambocor) poisoning--effect of hemodialysis/hemoperfusion?]

    [Article in German]

    Dirks E, Gieshoff B, Stahlmann R, Wehr M, Hager W.

    Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum der Universität (GHS), Essen.

    After suicidal ingestion of 3 g flecainide a 34-year-old woman showed somnolence, cerebral convulsion, disturbances of atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction and ventricular asystole. The maximum flecainide plasma level was 4900 ng/ml; this level is extremely high and exceeds the maximum therapeutic level by five times. After initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation and stabilization by intensive care treatment we performed a combined hemodialysis/hemoperfusion therapy (with activated charcoal). This procedure led to a rapid decrease of flecainide plasma levels and simultaneous improvement of ECG-alterations. The initial decrease in flecainide plasma levels during extracorporeal elimination occurred much quicker (4.5-8.5 h plasma halflife) than the spontaneous decrease rate of flecainide in humans (12-20 h plasma half-life). We conclude that, perhaps, hemodialysis/hemoperfusion therapy is an efficient method for decreasing toxic plasma levels of flecainide and for improvement of the clinical course of this intoxication.

    PMID: 2107645 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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    • Flecainide (Tambocor®)

      Flecainide is used to prevent certain types of life-threatening irregular heartbeats. Flecainide is in a class of medications called antiarrhythmics. It works by slowing electrical signals in the heart to stabilize the h...