[Varenicline poisoning for a suicidal purpose]

Ugeskr Laeger. 2014 Jun 2;176(23):V01140055.
[Article in Danish]

Abstract

Varenicline is a partial agonist on cerebral nicotine receptors and is indicated for smoking cessation. There are only a few case reports of intended overdose of varenicline. We report a history of a 45-year-old woman who ingested 40-50 mg varenicline. She spontaneously vomited shortly after ingestion which may be due to varenicline's effect on gastrointestinal 5-hydroxytryptamine3-receptors. At admission to hospital she received activated charcoal. ECG-monitoring and blood samples were all normal. She was discharged the following day.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antidotes / therapeutic use
  • Charcoal / therapeutic use
  • Drug Overdose / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Nicotinic Agonists / pharmacology
  • Nicotinic Agonists / poisoning*
  • Suicide, Attempted*
  • Varenicline / pharmacology
  • Varenicline / poisoning*
  • Vomiting

Substances

  • Antidotes
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Charcoal
  • Varenicline