Amoxapine overdose. Seizures and fatalities.

Thirty-three amoxapine overdoses, including five fatalities, were reported to two regional poison centers over an 18-month study period. The 15.2% mortality rate stands in alarming contrast to the 0.7% death rate for all other cyclic antidepressant overdoses reported to these same two centers during the study. Seizure activity was noted in 36.4% of amoxapine overdoses, compared with 4.3% of other cyclic antidepressant poisonings. Amoxapine appears to be responsible for a disproportionate share of seizures and deaths resulting from cyclic antidepressant overdose.