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Diphenhydramine is frequently misused and ingested recreationally for its antihistaminergic and antimuscarinic effects and is often involved in both serious and fatal poisonings, either in isolation or in combination with other xenobiotics. This analysis sought to determine which patient and encounter characteristics were associated with severe outcome after diphenhydramine overdose. This is an analysis of the multi-center ToxIC registry (2010–2016). Descriptive analysis of all cases with diphenhydramine listed as the "primary agent" contributing to toxicity were included. Analysis sought to determine which patient and encounter characteristics were associated with severe outcome, defined as occurrence of seizure, ventricular dysrhythmia, or intubation. To determine which patient and encounter characteristics were individually associated with severe outcome, we performed chi-square tests. Fisher's exact tests were used in the case of sparse data. We also performed multivariable logistic regression to further determine independent risk factors for severe outcome in diphenhydramine overdose. Eight hundred and sixty-three cases remained after exclusion with 15.6% (n = 135) of all patients having one or more severe outcome. The most common severe outcome was seizures which occurred in 98 (11.6%) of all ingestions. Females comprised 59.1% (n = 510) of all ingestions. Most ingestions were intentional (86.0%, n = 742) with the most common known reason for an intentional ingestion being self-harm, accounting for 37.5% (n = 324) of all ingestions. Self-harm ingestions and ingestions in males were more commonly associated with intubation. When examining outcomes by age, there were no significant differences overall or in any individual outcome except intubation in which children 0–12 were less likely to be intubated as compared to teens and adults. Signs and symptoms most strongly associated with a severe outcome included acidemia (pH < 7.2), QRS prolongation (QRS > 120 ms), and elevated anion gap (AG > 20). Acidemia, QRS prolongation, and elevated anion gap are associated with severe outcomes in diphenhydramine toxicity. Further research is warranted to determine their predictive characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bupropion is often categorized as a newer generation antidepressant and assessed with serotonin reuptake inhibitors as a lower risk than older tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). The objective of this study was to compare outcomes in adolescent suicide from ingestions between bupropion and TCA medications. Study design: An analysis of the National Poison Data System for exposures coded “suspected suicide” in adolescents (age: 13-19) was undertaken for the years 2013-2016 and included TCAs or bupropion. We compared clinical effects, therapies and medical outcomes. Results: Over the four-year period there were 2253 bupropion and 1496 TCA adolescent suspected suicide calls. There was a significant linear increase in bupropion ingestions over the four years. Across all years, there were on average 189.2 (95% CI: 58.1-320.4; p = .01) more ingestions of bupropion than TCA. When comparing bupropion to a TCA, ingestions of bupropion were significantly more likely to be accompanied by seizure (30.7% vs 3.9%; p < .01), to be admitted (74.8% vs 61.6%; p < .01) and medical outcomes to be coded as a major outcome (19.3% vs 10.0%; p < .01). The number of cases with death or major clinical outcome for both increased over the four-year period. Ingestions of bupropion were less likely to have hypotension (2.7% vs 8.0%; p < .01) and less likely to be intubated (5.6% vs 16.4%; p < .01) as compared to ingestions of TCA. Conclusions: Adolescents who overdose on a single medication in a suicide attempt with bupropion have a statistically significant higher incidence of major outcomes and seizures. The risks of bupropion as a potential means of suicidal gesture by overdose must be considered, and weighed against its benefits and side effect profile when choosing an appropriate agent for the treatment of depression in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bupropion is an aminoketone antidepressant. A major concern in bupropion toxicity is seizure activity, which can occur up to 24 h from ingestion. It is difficult to predict which patients will have seizures. The purpose of this study is to identify clinical features associate with seizure after bupropion overdose. We searched the Toxicology Investigators Consortium registry for a cases of poisoning by bupropion between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2017 in patients aged 13–65. Demographic variables and clinical features were compared between patients who did and did not experience a seizure and presented as unadjusted odds ratios (OR). Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) between clinical features and seizures. There were 256 cases of bupropion overdose remaining after inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. Clinical features associated with seizure were QTc >500 (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.3–8.8, p = 0.012), tachycardia (p > 140) (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1–3.561, p = 0.05), and age 13–18 years (2.4, 95% CI: 1.3–4.3, p = 0.005). The mean QTc value for patients experiencing a seizure was 482 ms (N = 95 IQR: 59 ms) versus 454 ms (N = 103, IQR: 43) in patients who did not experience seizure, however, it was not possible to identify a QTc cutoff with sensitivity or specificity to predict seizures. Based on our analysis of data from the ToxIC registry, age (13–18), tachycardia (p > 140) and QTc >500 ms are associated with seizures in bupropion overdose; however, a specific QTc value may not be a useful predictor of seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]