Metabolic consequences of salbutamol poisoning reversed by propranolol.

Administration of salbutamol, a beta2-adrenoreceptor agonist, is associated with several metabolic consequences including disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid, and potassium homeostasis.5 Although the importance of these effects during therapeutic use of the drug is not clear, severe hypokalaemia has been reported after salbutamol poisoning.2 As evidence suggests that the metabolic effects are due to beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation3 it seems logical to treat these results of salbutamol poisoning with a beta-adrenergic antagonist. We report a case in which salbutamol-induced hypokalaemia was managed successfully with propranolol.