Upper airway compromise in acute chlorpromazine ingestion

A 16-year-old boy developed symptoms of acute upper airway compromise after chlorpromazine ingestion. The patient took six 100-mg Thorazine tablets “to help him sleep.” Laryngeal-pharyngeal dystonia is a life-threatening form of dystonic reaction that is dose-dependent. In children, acute upper airway compromise should raise the suspicion of exposure to phenothiazines.