What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a case of severe hand ischaemia in a 24-year-old woman following intraarterial injection of crushed zolpidem.
What They Found
They found that a 24-year-old woman developed severe right hand ischaemia after self-injecting a crushed zolpidem tablet. Despite treatment with heparinization, vasodilators, prostacyclin, and hyperbaric oxygen, the first four digits of her hand remained gangrenous. This was attributed to microvascular embolization from microcrystalline cellulose, a component of zolpidem tablets.
Canadian Relevance
There is no specific Canadian connection mentioned in this study.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings may not be generalizable to all individuals or situations involving intraarterial drug injection.