We have recently managed a case of an intentional overdose of amoxapine in which severe metabolic acidosis and status epilepticus were the primary manifestations. A 64-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department having ingested 4300 mg amoxapine in a suicide attempt. The number of pills missing from a recently filled bottle verified the history. There was no evidence of the ingestion of any other substance. On admission she was drowsy but obeyed commands. Shortly thereafter she had a generalised convulsion which was treated with intravenous diazepam 7.5 mg. She underwent gastric lavage with the removal of a moderate number of tablets. Status epilepticus developed despite increasing doses of diazepam. (A total dose of 60 mg was given.) Respiratory depression eventually neccesitated intubation and she was transferred to the intensive care unit. On arrival there she was comatose and convulsing continuously. Pupils were midpoint and reacting sluggishly to light. She was haemodynamically unstable with a blood pressure 70/50 mmHg and poor peripheral perfusion. Temperature was 37.5•C. The