Pulmonary disease after amitriptyline overdosage.

of amitriptyline is reported.The disease process was accompanied by noticeable loss of lung compliance, and a gross diffusion defect at alveolar level. It seems unlikely that the course was that of an aspiration or bronchopneumonia, and clinically and pathologically it resembled the changes seen in surfactant deficiency. It is suggested that amitriptyline in overdosage may interfere with the production of surfactant.