Key result
IV calcium chloride drives rapid recovery in a patient with severe, refractory amlodipine overdose.
Why the study?
Calcium channel blocker overdose can cause severe toxicity and shock, and standard treatments such as calcium gluconate and catecholamines may be ineffective in severe cases.
Does intravenous calcium chloride improve hemodynamics in a patient with severe amlodipine overdose refractory to conventional treatments?
Case Report (n=1)
No
Does intravenous calcium chloride improve hemodynamics in a patient with severe amlodipine overdose refractory to conventional treatments?
Intravenous calcium chloride may serve as an effective rescue therapy for severe calcium channel blocker overdose with shock that is refractory to conventional treatments.
May inform rescue strategies in refractory amlodipine shock; leaves open efficacy and safety for prospective validation.
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are widely used to treat hypertension and tachyarrhythmias. However, an overdose can lead to severe toxicity, resulting in bradycardia, hypotension, and shock. Standard treatments, including calcium gluconate and catecholamines, may be ineffective in severe cases. This study reports a 60-year-old female with hypotensive shock following an intentional overdose of amlodipine. Despite the initial treatment with calcium gluconate, glucagon, and catecholamines, hemodynamic instability persisted. However, the intravenous administration of calcium chloride resulted in rapid hemodynamic improvement, allowing eventual recovery. This case highlights the potential of calcium chloride as a first-line antidote for severe CCBs overdose refractory to conventional treatments.
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Nakamura et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Acute calcium channel blocker overdose with shock (n=1). Calcium chloride vs. Calcium gluconate, glucagon, and catecholamines (initial treatment) was evaluated on Hemodynamic improvement and recovery. Intravenous administration of calcium chloride resulted in rapid hemodynamic improvement and recovery in a patient with severe amlodipine overdose refractory to conventional treatments.
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