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Publication Type: Notes message
Single or Multiple Incident: Multiple
Date: 6/13/2017 12:00:00 AM
Country: Denmark
This alert discusses the patient safety incidents that can occur with the sedating antihistamine, cyclizine. Cyclizine is available without prescription as an over-the-counter (otc) medication and has been used for suicide attempts. Four cases are referenced, one of which was fatal. The alert advises on the correct dose of cyclizine in children, adults and the elderly, common side effects, overdose symptoms and the additive sedative effect when combined with other anti-anxiety agents, sedatives, or anti-psychotics.

Additional Details

Medication/Gas/Fluid:
sedatives, anti-anxiety agents, anti-psychotics, antihistamines, cyclizine (Gotur®, Marzine®), alcohol

Training
  1. Be aware that cyclizine has been used in suicide attempts.
  2. The correct dose for children between 6 and 12 years of age is 25 mg for a maximum of three daily. For adults and children over 12 years of age, the dose is 50 mg no more than three times daily. The potentially toxic dose for which hospital visits are recommended is more than 5 mg / kg body weight in children and adults.
  3. Alcohol as well as medications for anxiety, insomnia and psychosis aggravate the sedative effect of cyclizine.
  4. In addition, one should be extra observant in children, the elderly over 65 years and patients with hepatic insufficiency who have taken cyclizine in larger doses.

Deliberate overdose with cyclizine (Gotur and Marzine®)