Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION: The emergency department (ED) evaluation of cocaine-associated acute coronary syndrome (CAACS) is often a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. CASE REPORT: We are reporting on the treatment of a patient with cocaine-associated acute coronary syndrome (CAACS) who did not benefit from standard therapy, but who eventually responded positively to phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist. DISCUSSION: This report should encourage physicians to add phentolamine to their pharmacotherapeutic armamentarium in the treatment of CAACS

Serious overdoses associated with tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants are frequently lethal. Problems associated with tricyclic antidepressant overdoses are usually the result of an acute or an acute-on-chronic overdosage. The patient who overdoses on tricyclic antidepressants may die, despite every medical effort to save him. An overdose of trazodone significantly differs from an overdose of a tricyclic antidepressant. The currently available clinical data indicate that coma and hypotension are the main concerns with trazodone overdose, and heretofore have been successfully treated with lavage, fluid therapy, and observation.