Deaths in connection with chlormethiazole (heminevrin) therapy

Abstract

Six cases are described where death occurred in connection with chlormethiazole (Heminevrin) infusion. The close time relationship and indirect evidence strongly suggest that chlormethiazole had an important role in the fatal outcome of the patients, but definite proof of this way was not possible to obtain. Present or past alcohol abuse and respiratory, liver, cardiac or CNS diseases of different degrees seemed to be features in common for the patients possibly rendering them susceptible to the suggested detrimental effect of chlormethiazole therapy. Respiratory depression is supposed to be the primary pathogenetic mechanism of the death. Considering the relatively limited use of chlormethiazole in the department in which these cases were observed and the recommended dosage applied, the risk of serious complication during chlormethiazole infusions seems to be surprisingly high.