Positive Outcome After Intentional Overdose of Dabigatran.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

J Med Toxicol. 2012 Dec 5;
Woo JS, Kapadia N, Phanco SE, Lynch CA

INTRODUCTION: Dabigatran (Pradaxa™), an orally active direct thrombin inhibitor, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation in October 2010. Life-threatening consequences from dabigatran therapy include hemorrhage and bleeding complications, but they typically occur after renal impairment. We describe the first case report of intentional, acute overdose with dabigatran. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old woman with a medical history of depression and atrial fibrillation presented to the emergency department after ingesting 11.25 g of dabigatran in a suicide attempt. Despite an ecchymosis indicative of prior trauma, there was no evidence of acute bleeding. After receiving gastric lavage and activated charcoal therapy in the emergency department, she was admitted to the ICU. On presentation, dabigatran blood levels measured 970 ng/mL and thrombin clot times measured above the testable limits (>120 s) until 52 h post-arrival. The remainder of her clinical course… Continue reading →