Asian Journal of Case Reports in Medicine and Health

Fatal Intoxication with Metformin and Gliclazide – "Case Report"

Peter Jackuliak

5th Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Magdaléna Kovářová

5th Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Andrea Martonová

1st Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Viera Žufková

Department of Languages, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Andrea Gažová *

Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Ján Kyselovič

5th Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Juraj Payer

5th Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Introduction: Biguanides (metformin) and sulfonylurea molecule (gliclazide) are oral antihyperglycemic drugs. Metformin can make lactate accumulation in patients with hepatic or renal failure or in patients with a suicide attempt. Gliclazide has very low toxicity, and it can develop acute renal failure in patients with massive ingestion in a suicide attempt.

The Patient's Primary Concerns and Critical Clinical Findings: A 53-year-old patient with a personal history of type 2 diabetes mellitus was treated with metformin 1000 mg twice daily and gliclazide 60 mg twice daily. On December 26th 2018, in the evening hours, he consumed 90 tablets of metformin 1000 mg (total dose 90 grams) and 95 tablets of gliclazide 60 mg (total dose 5.7 grams) for suicide. According to the report, he had been sick all night and suffered from muscle pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

The Primary Diagnoses, Interventions, and Outcomes: We concluded the diagnosis as a high anion gap metabolic acidosis. As a consequence of metformin intoxication, lactate level was furthermore elevated (24 mM). 

Conclusion: Metformin and gliclazide are commonly using as effective drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our case report described fatal intoxication with metformin and gliclazide. The aim is to remember the risk of daily used antidiabetic drugs – in high doses, in combinations, they can lead to pancreatitis, renal failure, or so long-known lactic acidosis.

Keywords: Intoxication, metformin, gliclazide, case report, suicide

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