Deliberate self-poisoning with tiagabine: an unusual toxidrome

Emerg Med Australas. 2007 Dec;19(6):556-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2007.00973.x.

Abstract

Tiagabine is an anticonvulsant acting by selective inhibition of neuronal and glial gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake, resulting in increased gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibition in the brain. Few reports in the literature describe the clinical course of severe tiagabine intoxication. A 44-year-old woman presented after deliberate self-poisoning with 100 tiagabine 15 mg tablets (1,500 mg; 25 mg/kg). Serum tiagabine level was 4,600 microg/L (1,725 mmol/L) at presentation, 20 times levels associated with therapeutic dosing. Intoxication was manifested by profuse vomiting, coma, myoclonus, generalized rigidity, bradycardia, hypertension, hypersalivation and generalized piloerection within 2 h of ingestion. The patient was intubated and management was supportive. Coma lasted until 10 h post-ingestion, but recovery was complicated by severe agitated delirium lasting 12 h. The patient recovered fully within 26 h of ingestion. Tiagabine deliberate self-poisoning was associated with the rapid onset of coma and an unusual toxidrome. Recovery, although complicated by agitated delirium, was complete within 26 h.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / poisoning*
  • Delirium / chemically induced
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Humans
  • Nipecotic Acids / poisoning*
  • Suicide, Attempted*
  • Tiagabine

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Nipecotic Acids
  • Tiagabine