Suicide Attempt by Swallowing with 60 Formoterol Inhaler Capsules: A Case Report
Fatih Büyükcam *
Department of Emergency Medicine, Yildirim Beyazıt Education and Research Hospital, Turkey.
Sevilay Vural
Department of Emergency Medicine, Bartin State Hospital, Turkey
Murat Doğan Işcanli
Department of Emergency Medicine, Ordu University Training and Research Hospital, Turkey.
Ülkü Açiksöz
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kirikkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
Oğuz Eroğlu
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kirikkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
Figen Coşkun
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kirikkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Formoterol is a long-acting β2 agonist used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oral ingestion of sympathomimetic aerosol preparations is unlikely to cause systemic toxicity as most of these agents are poorly absorbed via ingestion. Oral ingestion of inhaler formoterol capsule form is rare. Twenty six year old male admitted to the emergency department after a suicide attempt by swallowing 60 capsules of formoterol fumarate (12 mcg/capsule, total 720 mcg). With the oral ingestion of high doses caused nausea, vomiting, vertigo and palpitation in our patient. It is important to know the effects of the oral ingestion of inhaler formoterol capsule.
Keywords: Formoterol, inhaler capsule, suicide, swallowing