Drug-Induced Hyperthermic Syndromes Part I
Drug-Induced Hyperthermic Syndromes Part I. Hyperthermia in Overdose a,b, a Bryan D. Hayes, PharmD *, Joseph P. Martinez, MD , a,c Fermin Barrueto Jr, MD KEYWORDS Hyperthermia Thermoregulatory system Hypermetabolism Sympathomimetics Cocaine Methlenedioxymethamphetamine Anticholinergics Salicylates KEY POINTS Drugs and natural compounds that affect the thermoregulatory system can induce or contribute to hyperthermia when used in excess. Hyperthermia associated with drug overdose is dangerous and potentially lethal. Appropriate treatment strategies such as cooling and the administration of counteractive medications are discussed. Emergency physicians frequently manage patients with drug overdoses. When the ingested drug induces reactions that cause hyperthermia, the diagnostic process and treatment become particularly challenging. Although the terms fever and hyper- thermia are commonly used interchangeably, they are not equivalent. Fever is the normal physiologic response to an inflammatory pyrogen, and hyperthermia is an elevated core body temperature. Drugs and toxins that affect the thermoregulatory system can cause or contribute to hyperthermia through one of two mechanisms: increased production of heat or impaired ability to dissipate heat. The body is sensitive to temperature changes. Severe or prolonged hyperthermia can result in disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), delirium, rhabdomyolysis, and death.1 This article discusses sympathomimetics, Funding Sources: Nothing to disclose. Conflict of Interest: Nothing to disclose. a Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, Sixth Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; b Department of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; c Department of Emergency Medicine, Upper Chesapeake Health Systems, 500 Upper Chesa- peake Drive, Bel Air, MD 21015, USA * Corresponding author.
[Show full text]