Seizures induced by acute loxapine overdose

The author reviewed records of 10 patients who had experienced acute loxapine overdose. The most frequent medical complications were CNS depression, sinus tachycardia, hypertension, and hypothermia; 6 patients had had generalized major motor seizures, 1 had had recurrent paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, and 2 had had transient renal insufficiency from rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria. Other clinical effects from loxapine overdose were predominantly anticholinergic. The author recommends that loxapine-overdose patients receive ECG monitoring and treatment of medical complications in an intensive care unit.