Cardiotoxicity from orphenadrine intoxication in humans.

Eight cases of Orphenadrine intoxication were treated in the Resuscitation Centre of Rome's University Medical School. All these cases arrived in coma, after taking an overdose of Orphenadrine in an attempt at suicide. The clinical signs and therapy are reported in detail; the cardiovascular side-effects, in particular those involving arrhythmias are dangerous and life threatening. From the clinical data it is believed that these changes in rhythm are mostly due to the autonomic nervous system (A.N.S.). In fact all the 8 patients survived, without treatment never having been treated with cardiokinetic or antiarrhythmic drugs, but a few were given Diazepam as well as respiratory assistance, cardiovascular assistance, and forced diuresis.