What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a case of severe hand ischemia 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 ischemia 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.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This case highlights the extreme dangers of injecting oral medications, which can lead to irreversible tissue damage and gangrene. Patients should be aware that crushing and injecting pills can cause severe, permanent harm, even with common medications.
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.