[Clinical aspects and therapy of acute poisoning by the drug combination melitracen-flupenthixol (Deanxit)].

From 1975 to 1982, the Austrian Poison Information Centre gave medical advice in forty cases of acute melitracenee-flupenthixol poisoning. The case reports were reviewed and analysed in retrospect. 13 patients who either had ingested less than 20 pills (n = 5) or who underwent early gastric lavage (n = 8) showed no symptoms. In 19 patients who had swallowed 20 to 60 (n = 11), 60 to 100 (n = 3) pills respectively, or an unknown dose (n = 5) atropine like symptoms predominated. Five patients developed atropine like and extrapyramidal symptoms. The number of pills taken by these patients ranged from 20 to 60 (n = 4) and in one up to 100. Extrapyramidal reactions were encountered as predominant symptoms in three patients one of which had taken 20, the other 60 and the third an unknown number of pills. Additionally, five patients were unconscious. 21 patients developed ECG changes, 19 of which showing sinus tachycardia. The remaining two patients who had ingested 600 to 1000 mg melitracen atrial premature beats or T-wave inversions were observed. All 40 patients recovered.