GUANABENZ INDUCED HYPOTHERMIA IN A POISONED ELDERLY FEMALE

Guanabenz (Wytensin(R) Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA) is a centrally acting alpha(2) adrenergic agonist. Guanabenz shares stru ctural and pharmacologic properties with the more commonly known sympa tholytic agent clonidine. Little is known about guanabenz in overdose. Eleven cases of guanabenz poisoning have been reported in the literat ure and to the manufacturer to date and followed a clinical course com parable to clonidine poisoning. We report this case of guanabenz poiso ning in an elderly woman who sustained protracted hypothermia followin g overdose. Hypothermia has been commonly associated with clonidine to xicity but has not been previously reported with guanabenz. Postulated mechanisms of clonidine induced hypothermia are discussed.