Unusual Abdominal Complications of a Suicidal Overdose of Analgesic and Psychotropic Drugs in an Elderly Patient

A suicidal 67-year-old woman with manic-depressive psychosis took an overdose of aspirin, amitriptyline & diazepam. The initial effects were pyrexia, tachycardia, hyperpnea, metabolic acidosis, electrocardiographic changes, hypothrombinemia, gastritis, & pancreatitis. 4 to 6 weeks later, she was examined because of persistent abdominal pain with nausea, anorexia, anemia, & possibly a malabsorption syndrome. Surgery was performed & with appropriate treatment, the patient was well 3 months after.