Test Your Medicine Knowledge

The correct answer is amitriptyline (A)

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA); a class of drugs that can cause fatal drug poisoning. 

Although it is not regularly prescribed as in the past due to better alternatives, Amitriptyline may be used to treat depression, post-herpetic neuralgia, nocturnal enuresis in children and as migraine prophylaxis.

When a patient overdoses on amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants, the central nervous system and the heart are the two main systems affected. Symptoms include coma, respiratory depression, dry mouth, hypotension, and tachycardia. Other problems include cardiac rhythm disturbances, conduction delay (QRS prolongation), and seizures.

Sodium Bicarbonate is a key treatment in amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressant toxicity.

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