Tricyclic Antidepressant Drug Intoxication: Is there a Role for Lipid Emulsion Therapy?

Lipid resuscitation therapy is the administration of Intravenous Lipid Emulsions (ILE) with the intent of reducing the clinical manifestations of toxicity from drug overdoses; including local anesthetics, calcium-channel blockers, β- blockers, antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressant drugs (TCAD) and other compounds. Although there are conflicting findings in the literature, ILE may be considered for resuscitation in emergency and intensive care in resuscitation of severe hemodynamic compromise by TCAD. This article reviews recent literature to analyse consequences, and intended effects associated with this treatment modality in poisoning with TCAD.