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A 66-year-old woman developed coma, hyperkalaemia, hepatic steatosis and rhabdomyolysis with renal injury following intentional overdose and misuse of zopiclone in an attempt to suicide. Additionally, she developed neurotoxicity following intentional overdose and misuse of pregabalin [durations of treatments to the reaction onsets not stated; not all dosages, routes, outcomes and therapeutic indications stated].
The woman was admitted to the emergency department unconscious and hypotensive. Her medical history was significant for schizophrenia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Anamnesis revealed that she ingested 30 tablets of zopiclone 7.5mg at a total dose of 225mg in an suicide attempt. During hospitalisation, pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, blood glucose and lactate levels were 7.16, 9.1, 16.1, 9.6, 15 mmol/L and 3.6 mmol/L, respectively. Additionally, her potassium level was found to be 6.9 mmol/L suggesting hyperkalaemia.
Therefore, the woman was treated with glucose and insulin along with supplementation with calcium gluconate. As a result, potassium level was...