Ocular ergotamine tartrate toxicity during treatment of Vacor-induced orthostatic hypotension

Am J Ophthalmol. 1981 Oct;92(4):492-6. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(81)90641-3.

Abstract

A 20-year-old woman developed severe orthostatic hypotension after attempting suicide by ingesting the rodenticide, Vacor. Oral ergotamine tartrate, 6 mg a day, was useful in treating the orthostatic hypotension. However, a bilateral toxic retinal vasculopathy, consisting of a severe generalized vasoconstriction and mild macular edema, occurred within three weeks. Additional findings were an extinguished electroretinogram and a reduced dark-adaptation retinal sensitivity; because we performed these two tests after instituting ergotamine therapy we do not know whether to attribute their abnormal results to Vacor toxicity, ergotamine toxicity, or a combination of the two.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dark Adaptation / drug effects
  • Electroretinography
  • Ergotamine
  • Ergotamines / adverse effects*
  • Ergotamines / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / chemically induced*
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / drug therapy
  • Phenylurea Compounds / poisoning*
  • Retinal Vessels / drug effects
  • Rodenticides / poisoning*
  • Vision Disorders / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Ergotamines
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Rodenticides
  • Ergotamine
  • pyriminil