Peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis in methaqualone (Mandrax) poisoning

The clinical and toxicological features, and treatment, of a case of severe methaqualone poisoning are described. The patient presented with a plasma methaqualone level of 23 mg. per 100 ml. Alternate peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis, carried out during 2 days, reduced the plasma level to 11 mg. per 100 ml., with a recovery of 6.5 g. of methaqualone, and restored some neurological functions. Comparable dialyses over a further 2 days yielded 3.3 g. more of drug, and reduced the plasma level to 4.4 mg. per 100ml., but the patient then died of respiratory and peripheral circulatory failure.

Mean values of 7.5 and 29 ml. per min. were found for the clearance of methaqualone by peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis respectively. It is concluded that these techniques are at least as effective in the clearance of methaqualone as of the common barbiturates, and that they may be of value in treating gross Mandrax overdosage.