Meprobamate overdosage: a continuing problem.

Meprobamate was implicated in 50 (6.5%) of 773 admissions to Massachusetts General Hospital due to psychotropic drug overdosage between 1962 and 1975. Estimated doses ingested reached as high as 40 gm. Serious intoxication was common. In 25 cases deep coma (grade 3 or 4) was reached; 23 patients became hypotensive, and 16 required assisted ventilation. Two patients died, one of whom ingested an estimated 12 to 20 gm of meprobamate apparently with no other drugs. The findings indicate that overdosage with meprobamate, even when taken alone, produces intoxication that is often serious and sometimes fatal. Although meprobamate is a relatively inexpensive anti-anxiety agent, its questionable efficacy and the potential for life-threatening intoxication are important drawbacks to the clinical use of this drug.