Metabolic Acidosis Occurring during Paraldehyde Intoxication
Authors: LEONARD S. BEIER
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1963)

Case Studies1 January 1963Metabolic Acidosis Occurring during Paraldehyde IntoxicationLEONARD S. BEIER, M.D., WILLIAM H. PITTS, M.D., HARVEY C. GONICK, M.D.LEONARD S. BEIER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, WILLIAM H. PITTS, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, HARVEY C. GONICK, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-58-1-155 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSince paraldehyde was introduced into medicine almost 80 years ago by Cervello (1) and Strahan (2), it has been used extensively as a hypnotic and sedative in a variety of clinical situations. Although the drug possesses a wide margin of safety, respiratory depression and cardiovascular collapse have occasionally resulted from overdosage (3). Prior to 1957, metabolic acidosis was not recognized as a manifestation of paraldehyde toxicity. In that year, 4 patients with this drug-induced metabolic disturbance were described (4-6). No additional cases have been reported in the literature.The present paper describes a case of severe paraldehyde-induced acidosis which was...References1. CERVELLO V: Recherches cliniques et physiologiques sur la paraldehyde. Arch. Ital. Biol. 6: 113, 1884. Google Scholar2. STRAHAN SA: Action of paraldehyde, the new hypnotic. Lancet 1: 201, 1885. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. GOODMANGILMAN LSA: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 2d Ed., The Macmillan Company, New York, 1955, p. 167. Google Scholar4. HAYWARDBOSHELL JNBR: Paraldehyde intoxication with metabolic acidosis. Amer. J. Med. 23: 965, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. ELKINTONHUTHCLARKBARKERSELIGSON JREJJKESD: Renal tubular acidosis with organic aciduria during paraldehyde ingestion. Amer. J. Med. 23: 977, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. WATERHOUSESTERN CEC: Metabolic acidosis occurring during administration of paraldehyde. Amer. J. Med. 23: 987, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. MAXWELLROCKNEYKLEEMANTWISS MHRECRMR: Peritoneal dialysis: technique and application. JAMA 170: 917, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. HAWKOSERSUMMERSON PBBLWH: Practical Physiological Chemistry, 13th Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1954, p. 871. Google Scholar9. WINTONWINTON ALKG: Analysis of Foods, Wiley and Sons, New York, 1945, p. 212. Google Scholar10. BASTRUP JT: Method for determination of formic acid in urine. Acta Pharmacol. (Kbh.) 3: 303, 1947. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. NATELSON S: Microtechniques of Clinical Chemistry for the Routine Laboratory, Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1957, p. 266. Google Scholar12. Ibid: p. 199. Google Scholar13. HUTCHINSON R: A danger from paraldehyde. Brit. Med. J. 1: 718, 1930. CrossrefGoogle Scholar14. ANONYMOUS: Death from decomposed paraldehyde. Brit. Med. J. 2: 1114, 1954. MedlineGoogle Scholar15. AGRANATTRUBSHAW ALWH: The danger of decomposed paraldehyde. S. Afr. Med. J. 29: 1021, 1955. MedlineGoogle Scholar16. ANONYMOUS: Deteriorated paraldehyde. Lancet 2: 912, 1954. Google Scholar17. TOAL JS: The decomposition of paraldehyde B. P. on storage. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 10: 439, 1937. Google Scholar18. TAYLORWEISSWILKINS FHSR: The bisulfite binding power of the blood in health and in disease with special reference to vitamin B deficiency. J. Clin. Invest. 16: 833, 1937. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar19. HITCHCOCKNELSON PE: Metabolism of paraldehyde, II. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 79: 286, 1943. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: LEONARD S. BEIER, M.D.; WILLIAM H. PITTS, M.D.; HARVEY C. GONICK, M.D.Affiliations: Los Angeles, CaliforniaFrom the Medical Service, Wadsworth General Hospital, Veterans Administration Center, and the Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Leonard S. Beier, M.D., United States Army Hospital, Fort Monroe, Virginia. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byParaldehydeParaldehydeThe Meaning of LactateLactic AcidosisÜbersicht therapierelevanter Antiepileptika zur StatusbehandlungAlcoholic ketoacidosisSevere Lactic Acidosis Following Paraldehyde AdministrationDisorders associated with an altered anion gapAcid-Base Disorders and the KidneyAcid-base balance: Normal regulation and clinical applicationManagement of seizure disorders: Selected aspects. Part IPeritoneal Dialysis: A ReviewDialysis of Poisons and DrugsPseudoketosis and hyperacetaldehydemia in paraldehyde acidosisParaldehyde acidosisFATAL HYPERKALÆMIA IN STATUS EPILEPTICUSAcidosi latticaSpontaneous lactic acidosis 1 January 1963Volume 58, Issue 1Page: 155-158KeywordsAcidosisHospital medicineIngestionIntoxicationMedical dialysisMedical servicesNauseaSafetySedativesToxicity ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 January 1963 PDF downloadLoading ...