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Case Reports
. 2015 Jul;56(7):e116-9.
doi: 10.11622/smedj.2015114.

Herb-induced cardiotoxicity from accidental aconitine overdose

Sujata Sheth  1 , Elaine Ching Ching Tan  1 , Hock Heng Tan  2 , Leslie Tay  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Herb-induced cardiotoxicity from accidental aconitine overdose

Sujata Sheth et al. Singapore Med J. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Patients who overdose on aconite can present with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Aconite must be prepared and used with caution to avoid cardiotoxic effects that can be fatal. We herein describe a case of a patient who had an accidental aconite overdose but survived with no lasting effects. The patient had prepared Chinese herbal medication to treat his pain, which resulted in an accidental overdose of aconite with cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. The patient had ventricular tachycardia, bidirectional ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Following treatment with anti-arrhythmic medications, defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he made an uneventful recovery, with no further cardiac arrhythmias reported.

Keywords: aconite; aconitine herb; bidirectional ventricular tachycardia; cardiotoxic; overdose.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ECG shows fascicular ventricular tachycardia.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
ECG shows fascicular bigeminy.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
ECG shows bidirectional ventricular tachycardia.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
ECG shows normal sinus rhythm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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