Title: High dose insulin for calcium channel blockers: amlodipine vs. non-dihydropyridines<br/>Author: Hong Kim<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/526/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
Calcium channel blocker (CCB) overdose can lead to severe shock/hypotension. A small study was conducted to compare the hemodynamic effects of high-dose insulin (HDI) for two classes of CCB (dihydropyridines vs. non-dihydropyridines) that work differently to manage hypertension. </p>
<p>
<strong>Study design:</strong></p>
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<li>
Retrospective study from a single poison center (2019 – 2021)</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>Study sample:</strong></p>
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Amlodipine poisoning cases: 18</li>
<li>
Non-dihydropyridine (non-DHP) poisoning cases: 15</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>Result</strong></p>
<p>
Median number of maximum concomitant vasopressors (p=0.04)</p>
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<li>
Amlodipine: 3 (IQR: 2-5; range 0-6)</li>
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Non-DHP: 2 (IQR: 1-3; range 0-5)</li>
</ul>
<p>
Median difference in max concomitant vasopressors: 1 (95% CI: 0 – 2)</p>
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Median max epinephrine dosing</p>
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<li>
Amlodipine: 0.31 mcg/kg/min</li>
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Non-DHP: 0.09 mcg/kg/min</li>
</ul>
<p>
Use of rescue methylene blue (p=0.009)</p>
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<li>
Amlodipine: 7/18 (39%)</li>
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Non-DHP: 0</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>
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<li>
Amlodipine poisoning on HDI required more vasopressors and higher doses of epinephrine compared to non-DHP (verapamil or diltiazem)</li>
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This may be due to vasodilatory effect of amlodipine compared to non-DHPs</li>
</ul>
<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
<p>
<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;">Cole JB, Lee SC, Prekker ME, Kunzler NM, Considine KA, Driver BE, Puskarich MA, Olives TD. Vasodilation in patients with calcium channel blocker poisoning treated with high-dose insulin: a comparison </span><span class="markhww17r1nq" data-markjs="true" data-ogab="" data-ogac="" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 241, 0)" data-ogsc="black" style="background-color: rgb(255, 241, 0) !important; color: black !important;">of</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;"> amlodipine versus non-dihydropyridines. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2022 Nov;60(11):1205-1213. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2131565. Epub 2022 Oct 25. PMID: 36282196.</span></p>
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