Niferin SR Overdosage

Symptoms: The following symptoms are observed in cases of severe nifedipine intoxication: disturbances of consciousness to the point of coma, a drop in blood pressure, tachycardiac/bradycardiac heart rhythm disturbances, hyperglycaemia, metabolic acidosis, hypoxemia, cardiogenic shock with pulmonary edema.
Management of overdose in man: As far as treatment is concerned, elimination of the active substance and the restoration of stable cardiovascular conditions have priority.
After oral ingestion thorough gastric lavage is indicated, if necessary in combination with irrigation of the small intestine. Particularly in cases of intoxication with slow-release products like Niferin SR 30 mg Tablets elimination must be as complete as possible, including the small intestine, to prevent the otherwise inevitable subsequent absorption of the active substance. Haemodialysis serves no purpose, as nifedipine is not dialyzable, but plasmapheresis is advisable (high plasma protein binding, relatively low volume of distribution).
Bradycardic heart rhythm disturbances may be treated symptomatically with β-sympatiomimetics, and in life-threatening bradycardiac disturbances of heart rhythm temporary pacemaker therapy can be advisable.
Hypotension as a result of cardiogenic shock and arterial vasodilation can be treated with calcium (10 ~ 20 ml of a 10% calcium gluconate solution administered slowly i.v. and repeated if necessary).
As a result, the serum calcium can reach the upper normal range to slightly elevated levels.
If an insufficient increase in blood pressure is achieved with calcium, vasoconstricting sympathomimetics such as dopamine or noradrenaline are additionally administered. The dosage of these drugs is determined solely by the effect obtained.
Additional liquid or volume must be administered with caution because of the danger of overloading the heart.