Fatal combination of moclobemide overdose and whisky
Bleumink, G.S.; van Vliet, A.C.M.; van der Tholen, A.; Stricker, B.H.C.
Netherlands Journal of Medicine 61(3): 88-90
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-2977 PMID: 12765230 Document Number: 554105
The antidepressant moclobemide (Aurorix) is a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A. Pure moclobemide overdose is considered to be relatively safe. Mixed drug overdoses including moclobemide are potentially lethal, especially when serotonergical drugs are involved. So far, only one fatality due to moclobemide mono-overdose has been reported. We report here on a fatality following the ingestion of a moclobemide overdose in combination with half a bottle of whisky. Although dietary restrictions during moclobemide therapy are not considered necessary, the combination of large quantities of moclobemide and tyramine-containing products seems to be lethal, probably because monoamine oxidase-A selectivity is overwhelmed after massive overdoses. Since there is no specific antidote and treatment is only symptomatic, the severity of an overdose with moclobemide must not be underestimated.