RHABDOMYOLYSIS - A RARE ADVERSE EFFECT OF DIPHENHYDRAMINE OVERDOSE

Drug- and toxin-induced rhabdomyolysis is a nonspecific clinical syndr ome resulting from the release of skeletal muscle cell contents into t he plasma and urine, Antihistamine drugs are the active ingredients in a number of over-the-counter preparations and are frequently ingested in suicide attempts. We report rhabdomyolysis as a rare adverse effec t of diphenhydramine toxicity in a 29-year-old man who ingested an unk nown quantity of an over-the-counter sleep preparation in a suicide at tempt. The patient had documented toxic concentration of diphenhydrami ne in his cerebrospinal fluid and no history of seizures, coma, or hyp othermia. A high index of suspicion and an evaluation for rhabdomyolys is is warranted in antihistamine toxicity. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company.