Confirmed glyburide poisoning from ingestion of "street Valium"

Abstract

Background: Pharmaceuticals with little to no abuse potential are often sold surreptitiously as drugs of abuse on the street. Anecdotally, sulfonylureas are suspected to be commonly sold as "street Valium."

Case reports: Two patients presented with altered mental status and persistent hypoglycemia requiring continuous intravenous dextrose, in the context of suspected attempted benzodiazepine abuse. Supratherapeutic glyburide levels of 1198 and 647 ng/mL were measured in these patients.

Conclusions: These are two cases of glyburide poisonings from ingestion of "street Valium" that have been confirmed by laboratory testing.