Drugs of Abuse: Sympathomimetics

Hallie Brown; Katherine A Pollard

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2021.03.002

Drugs of Abuse: Sympathomimetics

Crit Care Clin. 2021 Jul;37(3):487-499. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.03.002.

Authors

Hallie Brown¹, Katherine A Pollard²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Avenue, Fifth Third Bank Building - Third Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Avenue, Fifth Third Bank Building - Third Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Electronic address: kapollar@iu.edu.

PMID: 34053702
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.03.002

Abstract

Sympathomimetic drugs comprise a broad category of substances including both illicit and prescribed drugs that have deleterious effects when ingested or abused. The clinical syndromes that result from overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by reuptake inhibition of biogenic amines, such as norepinephrine and dopamine, carry significant morbidity. Recognition and awareness of the appropriate supportive measures are required to mitigate life-threatening complications of multiple organ systems. The sympathomimetic toxidrome is recognized by a constellation of symptoms including agitation, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and hypertension, and the primary treatment involves supportive care, including the liberal use of benzodiazepines.

Keywords: Amphetamine; Cathinone; Cocaine; MDMA; Methamphetamine; Sympathomimetic; Toxidrome.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Benzodiazepines
Humans
Hypertension* / drug therapy
Pharmaceutical Preparations*
Sympathomimetics / adverse effects

Substances

Pharmaceutical Preparations
Sympathomimetics
Benzodiazepines