A case of calcium antagonist overdose in which the administration of calcium chloride was successful

Abstract

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department due to shock, and showed hypotension and acute renal failure due to overdose of amlodipine (535 mg). The patient showed poor response to catecholamines and treatment with intravenous calcium gluconate, glucagon and lipid emulsion therapy. However, treatment with calcium chloride showed immediate increase in blood pressure. Reports suggest that calcium chloride is more effective than calcium gluconate for the treatment of calcium channel blocker poisoning. Therefore, intravenous administration of calcium chloride should be considered as an alternative treatment for patients who showed poor response to calcium gluconate.