1
|
Pauly BB, Kurz M, Dale LM, Macevicius C, Kalicum J, Pérez DG, McCall J, Urbanoski K, Barker B, Slaunwhite A, Lindsay M, Nosyk B. Implementation of pharmaceutical alternatives to a toxic drug supply in British Columbia: A mixed methods study. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2024; 161:209341. [PMID: 38490334 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND North America has been in an unrelenting overdose crisis for almost a decade. British Columbia (BC), Canada declared a public health emergency due to overdoses in 2016. Risk Mitigation Guidance (RMG) for prescribing pharmaceutical opioids, stimulants and benzodiazepine alternatives to the toxic drug supply ("safer supply") was implemented in March 2020 in an attempt to reduce harms of COVID-19 and overdose deaths in BC during dual declared public health emergencies. Our objective was to describe early implementation of RMG among prescribers in BC. METHODS We conducted a convergent mixed methods study drawing population-level linked administrative health data and qualitative interviews with 17 prescribers. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) informs our work. The study utilized seven linked databases, capturing the characteristics of prescribers for people with substance use disorder to describe the characteristics of those prescribing under the RMG using univariate summary statistics and logistic regression analysis. For the qualitative analysis, we drew on interpretative descriptive methodology to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation. RESULTS Analysis of administrative databases demonstrated limited uptake of the intervention outside large urban centres and a highly specific profile of urban prescribers, with larger and more complex caseloads associated with RMG prescribing. Nurse practitioners were three times more likely to prescribe than general practitioners. Qualitatively, the study identified five themes related to the five CFIR domains: 1) RMG is helpful but controversial; 2) Motivations and challenges to prescribing; 3) New options and opportunities for care but not enough to 'win the arms race'; 4) Lack of implementation support and resources; 5) Limited infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS BC's implementation of RMG was limited in scope, prescriber uptake and geographic scale up. Systemic, organizational and individual barriers and facilitators point to the importance of engaging professional regulatory colleges, implementation planning and organizational infrastructure to ensure effective implementation and adaptation to context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette Bernie Pauly
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada; University of Victoria School of Nursing, Box 1700 Stn CSC, Victoria, BC 250, Canada.
| | - Megan Kurz
- Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Providence Health Care, 570-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z IY6b, Canada.
| | - Laura M Dale
- Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Providence Health Care, 570-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z IY6b, Canada.
| | - Celeste Macevicius
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada; University of Victoria School of Public Health and Social Policy, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Jeremy Kalicum
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada; University of Victoria School of Public Health and Social Policy, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Daniel Gudiño Pérez
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada; University of Victoria School of Public Health and Social Policy, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Jane McCall
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada
| | - Karen Urbanoski
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada; University of Victoria School of Public Health and Social Policy, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Brittany Barker
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; First Nations Health Authority, 501 - 100 Park Royal South, 170-6371 Crescent Road, Coast Salish Territory (West Vancouver), BC V7T 1A2, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Amanda Slaunwhite
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, 570-1081 Burrard Street, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z1Y6, Canada.
| | - Morgan Lindsay
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada.
| | - Bohdan Nosyk
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Providence Health Care, 570-1081 Burrard Street, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z1Y6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Choi NG, Choi BY, Marti CN, Baker SD. Intentional benzodiazepine poisoning in older adults reported to United States Poison Centers. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2024; 62:174-182. [PMID: 38683030 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2024.2334828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite known contraindications, benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed for older adults. This study utilizes poison control center data on benzodiazepine-involved cases aged 50 and above to compare the characteristics of suspected suicide attempt with other intentional misuse cases. We also examined associations of major medical outcomes (major effect/death) with demographic characteristics and other co-used substances in each group. METHODS The study employed data from the America's Poison Center National Poison Data System from 2015-2022. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were used. RESULTS Of the benzodiazepine-poisoning cases of intentional misuse (n = 93,245), 85 percent were suicide attempts and 15 percent were other intentional misuses. Reports to poisons centers showed a decline from 2019-2022 when compared to 2015-2016. However, the likelihood of a reported suicide attempt, compared to other intentional misuse, was greater in 2019-2022 compared to 2015-2016 and among those who co-used antidepressants, anxiolytics, atypical antipsychotics, other benzodiazepines, other analgesics, anticonvulsants, and alcohol. The odds of major effect/death in both groups were also greater in 2019-2022, with suicide attempt cases in advanced ages showing higher odds. The co-use of antidepressants, prescription opioids, atypical antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and other analgesics were associated with a higher likelihood of major effect/death in both exposure groups. For instance, adjusted odds ratios for co-used prescription opioids were 2.20 (95 percent confidence intervals: 2.09-2.31) among suicide attempt cases and 3.51 (95 percent confidence intervals: 3.10-3.97) among other intentional misuse cases. DISCUSSION Healthcare providers need to screen for suicidal ideation among benzodiazepine users, with special attention to an increased risk of suicide attempt among those who co-use antidepressants and opioids and to decreasing adverse outcomes in all misuse cases. Assessments of underlying mental health and substance use problems and medication regimens to minimize polypharmacy and drug interactions are needed to reduce adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Though the numbers of benzodiazepine-involved suicide attempt and other intentional misuse cases reported to United States poison centers decreased in recent years, the likelihood of major medical effect/death among these cases have increased.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Namkee G Choi
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of TX at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Bryan Y Choi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine & Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover, DE, USA
| | - C Nathan Marti
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of TX at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stewart PT, Rahman MB, Chiew AL, Fitzpatrick M, Osborne NJ, Chan BS. Cognitive impairment following sedative overdose. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2024; 62:152-163. [PMID: 38683031 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2024.2327554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients with sedative overdose may have residual cognitive impairment at the time they are deemed medically cleared for discharge. Impairment could affect the performance of high-risk activities, including driving. The Trail Making Test is an alpha-numeric assessment that can be performed at the bedside to assess cognitive function. We examined whether there were differences in cognitive function when medically cleared between patients that overdosed on sedative and non-sedative drugs. METHODS A prospective, observational study assessed cognitive function using the Trail Making Test between 2018 and 2021. Patients (16 years and greater) completed testing upon medical clearance if they spoke English and had no previous neurological injury. Continuous covariates were compared using t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests and multiple linear regression; binary variables were modelled using logistic regression. RESULTS Of 171 patients enrolled, 111 (65 per cent) had sedative overdose; they were older (median 32.1 versus 22.2 years) and more likely to be male (58.6 per cent versus 36.7 per cent). Benzodiazepines and paracetamol were the commonest drug overdoses. Patients with sedative overdose performed worse on Trail Making Test part A (37.0 versus 33.1 seconds, P = 0.017) and Trail Making Test part B (112.4 versus 81.5 seconds, P = 0.004). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that patient age (P < 0.001, 1.7 seconds slower per year, 95 per cent confidence interval: 0.9-2.6 seconds) and perception of recovery (P = 0.006, 36.4 seconds slower if perceived not recovered, 95 per cent confidence interval: 10.8-62.0 seconds) were also associated with Trail Making Test part B times. Patients with sedative overdose were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (Odds Ratio: 4.9, 95 percent confidence interval: 1.1-22.0; P = 0.04). DISCUSSION Our results are broadly in keeping with previously published work, but include a wider range of drug overdose scenarios (polypharmacy and recreational drugs). While patients demonstrated some perception of their cognitive impairment, our model could not reliably be used to provide individual discharge advice. The study design did not allow us to prove causation of cognitive impairment, or to make comparison between the strength of an overdose to the trail making test time. CONCLUSIONS Trail Making Test results suggested that patients who had sedative drug overdoses may have significant cognitive deficits even when medically cleared. Risk of harm may be minimised with advice to avoid high-risk activities such as driving. More profound impacts seen on the Trail Making Test part B than A may mean higher-order thinking is more affected than simple cognitive function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Stewart
- Prince of Wales Hospital Clinical Toxicology Unit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales School of Population Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Md Bayzidur Rahman
- Macquarie University Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Angela L Chiew
- Prince of Wales Hospital Clinical Toxicology Unit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales School of Clinical Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matt Fitzpatrick
- Prince of Wales Hospital Clinical Toxicology Unit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Osborne
- University of New South Wales School of Population Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of Queensland School of Public Health, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Betty S Chan
- Prince of Wales Hospital Clinical Toxicology Unit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales School of Clinical Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Castillo-Carniglia A, Rivera-Aguirre A, Santaella-Tenorio J, Fink DS, Crystal S, Ponicki W, Gruenewald P, Martins SS, Keyes KM, Cerdá M. Changes in Opioid and Benzodiazepine Poisoning Deaths After Cannabis Legalization in the US: A County-level Analysis, 2002-2020. Epidemiology 2023; 34:467-475. [PMID: 36943813 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis legalization for medical and recreational purposes has been suggested as an effective strategy to reduce opioid and benzodiazepine use and deaths. We examined the county-level association between medical and recreational cannabis laws and poisoning deaths involving opioids and benzodiazepines in the US from 2002 to 2020. METHODS Our ecologic county-level, spatiotemporal study comprised 49 states. Exposures were state-level implementation of medical and recreational cannabis laws and state-level initiation of cannabis dispensary sales. Our main outcomes were poisoning deaths involving any opioid, any benzodiazepine, and opioids with benzodiazepines. Secondary analyses included overdoses involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids, synthetic opioids, and heroin. RESULTS Implementation of medical cannabis laws was associated with increased deaths involving opioids (rate ratio [RR] = 1.14; 95% credible interval [CrI] = 1.11, 1.18), benzodiazepines (RR = 1.19; 95% CrI = 1.12, 1.26), and opioids+benzodiazepines (RR = 1.22; 95% CrI = 1.15, 1.30). Medical cannabis legalizations allowing dispensaries was associated with fewer deaths involving opioids (RR = 0.88; 95% CrI = 0.85, 0.91) but not benzodiazepine deaths; results for recreational cannabis implementation and opioid deaths were similar (RR = 0.81; 95% CrI = 0.75, 0.88). Recreational cannabis laws allowing dispensary sales was associated with consistent reductions in opioid- (RR = 0.83; 95% CrI = 0.76, 0.91), benzodiazepine- (RR = 0.79; 95% CrI = 0.68, 0.92), and opioid+benzodiazepine-related poisonings (RR = 0.83; 95% CrI = 0.70, 0.98). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of medical cannabis laws was associated with higher rates of opioid- and benzodiazepine-related deaths, whereas laws permitting broader cannabis access, including implementation of recreational cannabis laws and medical and recreational dispensaries, were associated with lower rates. The estimated effects of the expanded availability of cannabis seem dependent on the type of law implemented and its provisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Castillo-Carniglia
- From the Society and Health Research Center and School of Public Health, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Artes, Universidad Mayor, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus for the Evaluation and Analysis of Drug Policies (nDP), Chile
- Millennium Nucleus on Sociomedicine (Sociomed), Chile
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NY
| | - Ariadne Rivera-Aguirre
- Millennium Nucleus for the Evaluation and Analysis of Drug Policies (nDP), Chile
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NY
| | | | | | - Stephen Crystal
- Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - William Ponicki
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA
| | - Paul Gruenewald
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA
| | | | | | - Magdalena Cerdá
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NY
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Carvajal JP, Müller-Ramírez C. [Epidemiological Characterization of Benzodiazepine and Antidepressant Poisonings in Chile]. Rev Med Chil 2023; 151:453-460. [PMID: 38687520 DOI: 10.4067/s0034-98872023000400453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Poisonings are a worldwide preventable public health problem that affects the general population. OBJECTIVE To epidemiologically characterize BZ and AD poisonings registered in Chile between 2002 and 2019. METHODS An observational retrospective study of poisonings registered in the medical outcome report system of the Chilean Ministry of Health was conducted. The World Health Organization International Classification of Disease codes T42.2, T43.0 and T43.2 were included. RESULTS 22,807 poisonings associated with BZ or AD were identified, representing 0.08% of all hospitalizations. Poisoning rates distribution were established at regional and national level. There were 9.8% of accidental events, 63.7% of intentional events, and 26.5% of undetermined cases. The highest accidental and intentional poisoning rates were estimated at the ages of 0 to 4 and 15 to 19 years old respectively. Poisoned patients remained hospitalized on average for 3.4 days. 0.3% of cases were related to death of patients. CONCLUSIONS Poisoning events were characterized according to the studied variables. National poisoning rates decreased over the years with prevalence of those intentional events linked to women. Efforts should be made in creating poisoning prevention campaigns focused on age-based groups in the general population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Carvajal
- Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu S, O’Donnell J, Gladden RM, McGlone L, Chowdhury F. Trends in Nonfatal and Fatal Overdoses Involving Benzodiazepines - 38 States and the District of Columbia, 2019-2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021; 70:1136-1141. [PMID: 34437522 PMCID: PMC8389388 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7034a2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses increased overall from 2019 to 2020 (1).* Illicit benzodiazepines (e.g., etizolam, flualprazolam, and flubromazolam)† were increasingly detected among postmortem and clinical samples in 2020, often with opioids,§ and might have contributed to overall increases in drug overdoses. Availability of recent multistate trend data on nonfatal benzodiazepine-involved overdoses and involvement of illicit benzodiazepines in overdoses is limited. This data gap was addressed by analyzing annual and quarterly trends in suspected benzodiazepine-involved nonfatal overdoses¶ treated in emergency departments (EDs) (benzodiazepine overdose ED visits) during January 2019-December 2020 (32 states and the District of Columbia [DC]) and benzodiazepine-involved overdose deaths (benzodiazepine deaths), which include both illicit and prescription benzodiazepines, during January 2019-June 2020 (23 states) from CDC's Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. From 2019 to 2020, benzodiazepine overdose ED visits per 100,000 ED visits increased (23.7%), both with opioid involvement (34.4%) and without (21.0%). From April-June 2019 to April-June 2020, overall benzodiazepine deaths increased 42.9% (from 1,004 to 1,435), prescription benzodiazepine deaths increased 21.8% (from 921 to 1,122), and illicit benzodiazepine deaths increased 519.6% (from 51 to 316). During January-June 2020, most (92.7%) benzodiazepine deaths also involved opioids, mainly illicitly manufactured fentanyls (IMFs) (66.7%). Improving naloxone availability and enhancing treatment access for persons using benzodiazepines and opioids and calling emergency services for overdoses involving benzodiazepines and opioids, coupled with primary prevention of drug use and misuse, could reduce morbidity and mortality.
Collapse
|
7
|
Barenie RE, Gagne JJ, Kesselheim AS, Pawar A, Tong A, Luo J, Bateman BT. Rates and Costs of Dispensing Naloxone to Patients at High Risk for Opioid Overdose in the United States, 2014-2018. Drug Saf 2021; 43:669-675. [PMID: 32180134 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-020-00923-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clinical practice guidelines recommend co-prescribing naloxone to patients at high risk of opioid overdose, but few such patients receive naloxone. High costs of naloxone may contribute to limited dispensing. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate rates and costs of dispensing naloxone to patients receiving opioid prescriptions and at high risk for opioid overdose. METHODS Using claims data from a large US commercial insurance company, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of new opioid initiators between January 2014 and December 2018. We identified patients at high risk for overdose defined as a diagnosis of opioid use disorder, prior overdose, an opioid prescription of ≥ 50 mg morphine equivalents/day for ≥ 90 days, and/or concurrent benzodiazepine prescriptions. RESULTS Among 5,292,098 new opioid initiators, 616,444 (12%) met criteria for high risk of overdose during follow-up, and, of those, 3096 (0.5%) were dispensed naloxone. The average copayment was US$24.83 for naloxone (standard deviation [SD] 67.66) versus US$9.74 for the index opioid (SD 19.75). The average deductible was US$6.18 for naloxone (SD 27.32) versus US$3.74 for the index opioid (SD 25.56), with 94% and 88% having deductibles of US$0 for their naloxone and opioid prescriptions, respectively. The average out-of-pocket cost was US$31.01 for naloxone (SD 73.64) versus US$13.48 for the index opioid (SD 34.95). CONCLUSIONS Rates of dispensing naloxone to high risk patients were extremely low, and prescription costs varied greatly. Since improving naloxone's affordability may increase access, whether naloxone's high cost is associated with low dispensing rates should be evaluated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Barenie
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.
| | - Joshua J Gagne
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Aaron S Kesselheim
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Ajinkya Pawar
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Angela Tong
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Jing Luo
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Brian T Bateman
- From the Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law (PORTAL), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bushnell GA, Olfson M, Martins SS. Sex differences in US emergency department non-fatal visits for benzodiazepine poisonings in adolescents and young adults. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 221:108609. [PMID: 33639570 PMCID: PMC8482968 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzodiazepine (BZD)-related overdose deaths have risen in the past decade and BZD misuse contributes to thousands of emergency department (ED) visits annually, with the highest rates in adolescents and young adults. Because there are gaps in understanding BZD poisoning in youth and whether differences occur by sex, we aimed to characterize BZD poisoning ED visits in young people by sex. METHODS BZD poisoning visits were identified in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, among adolescents (12-17 years) and young adults (18-29 years). Stratified by sex and age, we described ED visits for BZD poisonings in 2016, including poisoning intent, concurrent substances involved, and co-occurring mental health disorder diagnoses. With logistic regression we examined the association between intent and concurrent substance. RESULTS There were approximately 38,000 BZD poisoning ED visits by young people nationwide with annual population rates per 10,000 of 2.9=adolescents and 5.8=young adults. Depression was diagnosed in 40 % of female and 23 % of male BZD visits (p < 0.01). Over half of BZD poisonings in females and a third in males were intentional (p < 0.01). Male BZD visits were more likely to involve opioids or cannabis and less likely to involve antidepressants than females (p-values<0.01). In males and females, BZD poisonings concurrent with antidepressants and other psychotropic medications were more likely to be intentional than unintentional (OR range:2.1-6.3). CONCLUSIONS The high proportion of BZD poisonings that are intentional and include mental health disorder diagnoses, especially among young females, underscore the importance of ED mental health and suicide risk assessment with appropriate follow-up referral.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta A Bushnell
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168(th) St., New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Mark Olfson
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168(th) St., New York, NY 10032, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168(th) St., New York, NY 10032, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jinlei L, Wurita A, Xuejun W, Hongkun Y, Jie G, Liqin C. Supramolecular solvent (SUPRASs) extraction method for detecting benzodiazepines and zolpidem in human urine and blood using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2020; 48:101822. [PMID: 33285339 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A high-throughput and sensitive method using supramolecular solvent (SUPRASs) for detecting 9 benzodiazepines and zolpidem in human urine and blood by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was newly established and applied to authentic human urine and blood samples in this study. METHODS Urine and blood samples were subjected to liquid-liquid extractions with supramolecular solvent mixture which consists of tetrahydrofuran and 1-hexanol. The solvent layer was evaporated to dryness by stream of nitrogen. The residue was reconstituted with methanol, and subjected to analysis by GC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode; internal standard method was employed for quantifying of each targeted compound. RESULTS The regression equation has a good linear relationship with correlation coefficients for all tested compounds were not lower than 0.9991. The lower limits of the quantification ranged from 0.20 to 5 ng/mL for tested compounds in urine; Meanwhile, the lower limits of the quantification in this method ranged from 1 to 50 ng/mL for tested compounds in blood. These results showed that excellent reproducibility and satisfactory extraction recovery rates could be obtained for the established analytical method for 10 drugs in both blood and urine samples. CONCLUSION The established method in this study was high-throughput, simple and sufficiently sensitive for determining of benzodiazepinesand zolpidem in human urine and blood. Therefore, this newly established method could be of use for qualitative and quantitative determination of such drugs in urine and blood samples either for clinical poisoning monitoring or for forensic identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liu Jinlei
- Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Amin Wurita
- Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China.
| | - Wei Xuejun
- Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yang Hongkun
- Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Gu Jie
- Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Chen Liqin
- Department of Legal Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Affiliation(s)
- M Runnstrom
- From the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - S S Kalra
- From the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - J Lascano
- From the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - D C Patel
- From the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Carillo NJ, Golden L, Saraghi M. Flumazenil: a review and implications for benzodiazepine overdose. Gen Dent 2020; 68:14-17. [PMID: 31859656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
12
|
Latifi-Pour M, Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Mortazavi HS, Shadnia S, Zamani N, Rahimi M. The Effect of Methylphenidate on Reed Scaling in Benzodiazepine Poisoning: A Prospective Trial. Curr Clin Pharmacol 2020; 15:81-88. [PMID: 30648520 PMCID: PMC7366007 DOI: 10.2174/1574884714666190112153157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzodiazepine is one of the most important causes of substance abuse and intoxication throughout the world and Iran. OBJECTIVE The aim of our study is to determine the role of stimulants in reversing CNS level in acute Benzodiazepine poisoning patients who were hospitalized at referral poison center. METHOD This was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial study on 32 cases with pure acute Benzodiazepine poisoning from March 2016 to February 2017. Diagnosis of pure acute poisoning was based on history, and laboratory confirmation. We gathered the demographics, clinical data, laboratory data, hospitalization and outcome. Participants were randomized into two groups: Methylphenidate Group (MPH) and Placebo Group (PBO). RESULTS The randomized sample consisted of 32 participants who were predominately female (83%). The majority of the PBO group and the MPH group reported improvement in their consciousness with a significant difference between the two groups (p = .005). Paired sample t-test analyses on Reed Scale data revealed an increase in the probability of improvement during the trial for the MPH group compared to the PBO group. Furthermore, the HCo3 (bicarbonate) level has a significant p-value with respect to age groups (p = .02). None of our cases required either the ICU facility or intubation. CONCLUSION Our study provided the MPH superiority over PBO in reversing CNS symptoms in loss of consciousness in acute BZD poisoned patients. Thus, this trial provides concrete evidence that improvement in consciousness levels (Reed Scale rated) among those patients receiving MPH was associated with a methylphenidate use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Latifi-Pour
- Toxicological Research Center and Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Kamali Avenue, South Karegar Street, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam
- Toxicological Research Center and Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Kamali Avenue, South Karegar Street, Tehran, Iran
| | - Helya-Sadat Mortazavi
- Toxicological Research Center and Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Kamali Avenue, South Karegar Street, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Shadnia
- Toxicological Research Center and Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Kamali Avenue, South Karegar Street, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasim Zamani
- Toxicological Research Center and Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Kamali Avenue, South Karegar Street, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Rahimi
- Toxicological Research Center and Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Kamali Avenue, South Karegar Street, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Davidson JE, Proudfoot J, Lee K, Zisook S. Nurse suicide in the United States: Analysis of the Center for Disease Control 2014 National Violent Death Reporting System dataset. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2019; 33:16-21. [PMID: 31711588 PMCID: PMC7927355 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored nurse suicide in the United States. METHODS Characteristics were compared between occupations using 2014 National Violent Death Reporting System data. RESULTS Female nurse suicides were significantly higher (11.97/100,000) than in the female population (7.58/100,000) (p < 0.001); similarly male nurses (39.8/100,000) compared to the male population (28.2/100,000) (p < 0.001). Benzodiazepines and opioids were the most commonly used substances used in clinician suicide. CONCLUSION These results suggest a public health imperative for future research and development of effective preventative strategies for nurses; a largely understudied population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judy E Davidson
- University of California San Diego Health, United States of America; University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, United States of America.
| | - James Proudfoot
- Clinical Translational Research Institute, University of California San Diego, United States of America
| | - Kelly Lee
- University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, United States of America
| | - Sidney Zisook
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Chang HY, Krawczyk N, Schneider KE, Ferris L, Eisenberg M, Richards TM, Lyons BC, Jackson K, Weiner JP, Saloner B. A predictive risk model for nonfatal opioid overdose in a statewide population of buprenorphine patients. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019; 201:127-133. [PMID: 31207453 PMCID: PMC6713520 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Predicting which individuals who are prescribed buprenorphine for opioid use disorder are most likely to experience an overdose can help target interventions to prevent relapse and subsequent consequences. METHODS We used Maryland prescription drug monitoring data from 2015 to identify risk factors for nonfatal opioid overdoses that were identified in hospital discharge records in 2016. We developed a predictive risk model for prospective nonfatal opioid overdoses among buprenorphine patients (N = 25,487). We estimated a series of models that included demographics plus opioid, buprenorphine and benzodiazepine prescription variables. We applied logistic regression to generate performance measures. RESULTS About 3.24% of the study cohort had ≥1 nonfatal opioid overdoses. In the model with all predictors, odds of nonfatal overdoses among buprenorphine patients were higher among males (OR = 1.39, 95% CI:1.21-1.62) and those with more buprenorphine pharmacies (OR = 1.19, 95% CI:1.11-1.28), 1+ buprenorphine prescription paid by Medicaid (OR = 1.21, 95% CI:1.02-1.48), Medicare (OR = 1.93, 95% CI:1.63-2.43), or a commercial plan (OR = 1.98, 95% CI:1.30-2.89), 1+ opioid prescription paid by Medicare (OR = 1.30, 95% CI:1.03-1.68), and more benzodiazepine prescriptions (OR = 1.04, 95% CI:1.02-1.05). The odds were lower among those with longer days of buprenorphine (OR = 0.64, 95% CI:0.60-0.69) or opioid (OR = 0.79, 95% CI:0.65-0.95) supply. The model had moderate predictive ability (c-statistic = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS Several modifiable risk factors, such as length of buprenorphine treatment, may be targets for interventions to improve clinical care and reduce harms. This model could be practically implemented with common prescription-related information and allow payers and clinical systems to better target overdose risk reduction interventions, such as naloxone distribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Yen Chang
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health Information Technology, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Noa Krawczyk
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Kristin E Schneider
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Lindsey Ferris
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USA; The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Matthew Eisenberg
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Tom M Richards
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health Information Technology, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - B Casey Lyons
- Maryland Department of Health, Public Health Services, Office of PDMP and Overdose Prevention Applied Data Programs, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Kate Jackson
- Maryland Department of Health, Public Health Services, Office of PDMP and Overdose Prevention Applied Data Programs, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Jonathan P Weiner
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health Information Technology, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Brendan Saloner
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rajesh R, Dasarathy J. Would you be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of this particular drug overdose? J Fam Pract 2019; 68:290-292. [PMID: 31287444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
These 2 cases offer insights to faster recognition of a common cause of drug overdose.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Rajesh
- MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jaividhya Dasarathy
- MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gangwani MK, Aziz M, Asif R, Ali SA. Green Urine And Altered Mental Status: A Case Of Intoxication. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2019; 31:278-281. [PMID: 31094132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Green coloured urine is atypical as it usually signifies the presence of an exogenous substance. Several substances in literature have been associated with green urine including propofol, biliverdin, metoclopramide, methylene blue, indigo blue, amitriptyline, methocarbamol, indomethacin, promethazine, cimetidine and food colourings. We present here a case of middleaged man who presented to our ER with altered mental status and green coloured urine with positive urine toxicology reports for benzodiazepine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Muhammad Aziz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Rana Asif
- Department of Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Syed Ahsan Ali
- Department of Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Cairns R, Karanges EA, Wong A, Brown JA, Robinson J, Pearson SA, Dawson AH, Buckley NA. Trends in self-poisoning and psychotropic drug use in people aged 5-19 years: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Australia. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e026001. [PMID: 30787095 PMCID: PMC6398641 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To characterise trends in self-poisoning and psychotropic medicine use in young Australians. DESIGN Population-based retrospective cohort study. SETTING Calls taken by the New South Wales and Victorian Poisons Information Centres (2006-2016, accounting for 70% of Australian poisoning calls); medicine dispensings in the 10% sample of Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data (July 2012 to June 2016). PARTICIPANTS People aged 5-19 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Yearly trends in intentional poisoning exposure calls, substances taken in intentional poisonings, a prevalence of psychotropic use (dispensing of antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)). RESULTS There were 33 501 intentional poisonings in people aged 5-19 years, with an increase of 8.39% per year (95% CI 6.08% to 10.74%, p<0.0001), with a 98% increase overall, 2006-2016. This effect was driven by increased poisonings in those born after 1997, suggesting a birth cohort effect. Females outnumbered males 3:1. Substances most commonly taken in self-poisonings were paracetamol, ibuprofen, fluoxetine, ethanol, quetiapine, paracetamol/opioid combinations, sertraline and escitalopram. Psychotropic dispensing also increased, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increasing 40% and 35% July 2012 to June 2016 in those aged 5-14 and 15-19, respectively. Fluoxetine was the most dispensed SSRI. Antipsychotics increased by 13% and 10%, while ADHD medication dispensing increased by 16% and 10%, in those aged 5-14 and 15-19, respectively. Conversely, dispensing of benzodiazepines to these age groups decreased by 4% and 5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results signal a generation that is increasingly engaging in self-harm and is increasingly prescribed psychotropic medications. These findings indicate growing mental distress in this cohort. Since people who self-harm are at increased risk of suicide later in life, these results may foretell future increases in suicide rates in Australia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose Cairns
- NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily A Karanges
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anselm Wong
- Victorian Poisons Information Centre and Austin Toxicology Service, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jared A Brown
- NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jeff Robinson
- Victorian Poisons Information Centre, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sallie-Anne Pearson
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew H Dawson
- NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Buckley
- NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cremaschi L, Grancini B, De Carlo V, Pozzoli S, Altamura AC, Dell'Osso B. Benzodiazepine ingestion as a way to die by suicide and related safety: the case of an elderly patient. Aging Clin Exp Res 2019; 31:287-289. [PMID: 29730844 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-018-0966-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are widespread psychotropic compounds, often prescribed as first-line symptomatic option by general practitioners in patients with different psychiatric disorders. Sometimes, however, they contribute to delay the administration of the first appropriate psychopharmacological treatment, thus leading to a longer duration of untreated illness in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders. The well-established pros of BDZs use in clinical practice include efficacy, rapidity of action, versatility, and safety. Among the cons, BDZs can provoke cognitive side-effects, asthenia, and misuse/abuse. Although their overall safety has been traditionally viewed as one of their greatest strengths, BDZs massive ingestion for suicidal purposes may pose, in some cases, serious life-threatening conditions, as described in the present case report. Hence, particular attention needs to be paid in prescribing these compounds to special populations, such as elderly patients. Among these, their prescription should be limited to the short-term and particularly monitored in case of risk factors, as they may be unsafe in case of overdose.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cremaschi
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Grancini
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Vera De Carlo
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Pozzoli
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - A Carlo Altamura
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- CRC "Aldo Ravelli" for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral poisoning is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with estimates of over 100,000 deaths due to unintentional poisoning each year and an overrepresentation of children below five years of age. Any effective intervention that laypeople can apply to limit or delay uptake or to evacuate, dilute or neutralize the poison before professional help arrives may limit toxicity and save lives. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of pre-hospital interventions (alone or in combination) for treating acute oral poisoning, available to and feasible for laypeople before the arrival of professional help. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and three clinical trials registries to 11 May 2017, and we also carried out reference checking and citation searching. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomized controlled trials comparing interventions (alone or in combination) that are feasible in a pre-hospital setting for treating acute oral poisoning patients, including but potentially not limited to activated charcoal (AC), emetics, cathartics, diluents, neutralizing agents and body positioning. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data collection and assessment. Primary outcomes of this review were incidence of mortality and adverse events, plus incidence and severity of symptoms of poisoning. Secondary outcomes were duration of symptoms of poisoning, drug absorption, and incidence of hospitalization and ICU admission. MAIN RESULTS We included 24 trials involving 7099 participants. Using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool, we assessed no study as being at low risk of bias for all domains. Many studies were poorly reported, so the risk of selection and detection biases were often unclear. Most studies reported important outcomes incompletely, and we judged them to be at high risk of reporting bias.All but one study enrolled oral poisoning patients in an emergency department; the remaining study was conducted in a pre-hospital setting. Fourteen studies included multiple toxic syndromes or did not specify, while the other studies specifically investigated paracetamol (2 studies), carbamazepine (2 studies), tricyclic antidepressant (2 studies), yellow oleander (2 studies), benzodiazepine (1 study), or toxic berry intoxication (1 study). Eighteen trials investigated the effects of activated charcoal (AC), administered as a single dose (SDAC) or in multiple doses (MDAC), alone or in combination with other first aid interventions (a cathartic) and/or hospital treatments. Six studies investigated syrup of ipecac plus other first aid interventions (SDAC + cathartic) versus ipecac alone. The collected evidence was mostly of low to very low certainty, often downgraded for indirectness, risk of bias or imprecision due to low numbers of events.First aid interventions that limit or delay the absorption of the poison in the bodyWe are uncertain about the effect of SDAC compared to no intervention on the incidence of adverse events in general (zero events in both treatment groups; 1 study, 451 participants) or vomiting specifically (Peto odds ratio (OR) 4.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 57.26, 1 study, 25 participants), ICU admission (Peto OR 7.77, 95% CI 0.15 to 391.93, 1 study, 451 participants) and clinical deterioration (zero events in both treatment groups; 1 study, 451 participants) in participants with mixed types or paracetamol poisoning, as all evidence for these outcomes was of very low certainty. No studies assessed SDAC for mortality, duration of symptoms, drug absorption or hospitalization.Only one study compared SDAC to syrup of ipecac in participants with mixed types of poisoning, providing very low-certainty evidence. Therefore we are uncertain about the effects on Glasgow Coma Scale scores (mean difference (MD) -0.15, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.13, 1 study, 34 participants) or incidence of adverse events (risk ratio (RR) 1.24, 95% CI 0.26 to 5.83, 1 study, 34 participants). No information was available concerning mortality, duration of symptoms, drug absorption, hospitalization or ICU admission.This review also considered the added value of SDAC or MDAC to hospital interventions, which mostly included gastric lavage. No included studies investigated the use of body positioning in oral poisoning patients.First aid interventions that evacuate the poison from the gastrointestinal tractWe found one study comparing ipecac versus no intervention in toxic berry ingestion in a pre-hospital setting. Low-certainty evidence suggests there may be an increase in the incidence of adverse events, but the study did not report incidence of mortality, incidence or duration of symptoms of poisoning, drug absorption, hospitalization or ICU admission (103 participants).In addition, we also considered the added value of syrup of ipecac to SDAC plus a cathartic and the added value of a cathartic to SDAC.No studies used cathartics as an individual intervention.First aid interventions that neutralize or dilute the poison No included studies investigated the neutralization or dilution of the poison in oral poisoning patients.The review also considered combinations of different first aid interventions. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The studies included in this review provided mostly low- or very low-certainty evidence about the use of first aid interventions for acute oral poisoning. A key limitation was the fact that only one included study actually took place in a pre-hospital setting, which undermines our confidence in the applicability of these results to this setting. Thus, the amount of evidence collected was insufficient to draw any conclusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bert Avau
- Belgian Red CrossCentre for Evidence‐Based PracticeMotstraat 42MechelenBelgium2800
- Belgian Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine ‐ Cochrane BelgiumKapucijnenvoer 33, blok JLeuvenBelgium3000
| | - Vere Borra
- Belgian Red CrossCentre for Evidence‐Based PracticeMotstraat 42MechelenBelgium2800
| | - Anne‐Catherine Vanhove
- Belgian Red CrossCentre for Evidence‐Based PracticeMotstraat 42MechelenBelgium2800
- Belgian Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine ‐ Cochrane BelgiumKapucijnenvoer 33, blok JLeuvenBelgium3000
| | - Philippe Vandekerckhove
- Belgian Red CrossMotstraat 40MechelenBelgium2800
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of MedicineKapucijnenvoer 35 blok dLeuvenBelgium3000
| | - Peter De Paepe
- Ghent University HospitalDepartment of Emergency MedicineGhentBelgium
| | - Emmy De Buck
- Belgian Red CrossCentre for Evidence‐Based PracticeMotstraat 42MechelenBelgium2800
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of MedicineKapucijnenvoer 35 blok dLeuvenBelgium3000
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hedegaard H, Bastian BA, Trinidad JP, Spencer M, Warner M. Drugs Most Frequently Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths: United States, 2011-2016. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2018; 67:1-14. [PMID: 30707673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective-This report identifies the specific drugs involved most frequently in drug overdose deaths in the United States from 2011 through 2016. Methods-Record-level data from the 2011-2016 National Vital Statistics System-Mortality files were linked to electronic files containing literal text information from death certificates. Drug overdose deaths were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision underlying causeof- death codes X40-X44, X60-X64, X85, and Y10-Y14. Drug mentions were identified by searching the literal text in three fields of the death certificate: the causes of death from Part I, significant conditions contributing to death from Part II, and a description of how the injury occurred. Contextual information was used to determine drug involvement in the death. Descriptive statistics were calculated for drug overdose deaths involving the 10 most frequently mentioned drugs. Deaths involving more than one drug (e.g., a death involving both heroin and cocaine) were counted in all relevant drug categories (e.g., the same death was included in counts of heroin deaths and in counts of cocaine deaths). Results-Among drug overdose deaths that mentioned at least one specific drug, the 10 most frequently mentioned drugs during 2011-2016 included fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, alprazolam, diazepam, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Oxycodone ranked first in 2011, heroin during 2012-2015, and fentanyl in 2016. During the study period, cocaine consistently ranked second or third. From 2011 through 2016, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving heroin more than tripled, as did the rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine. The rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs doubled each year from 2013 through 2016, from 0.6 per 100,000 in 2013 to 1.3 in 2014, 2.6 in 2015, and 5.9 in 2016. The rate of overdose deaths involving methadone decreased from 1.4 per 100,000 in 2011 to 1.1 in 2016. The 10 most frequently mentioned drugs often were found in combination with each other. The drugs most frequently mentioned varied by the intent of the drug overdose death. In 2016, the drugs most frequently mentioned in unintentional drug overdose deaths were fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, while the drugs most frequently mentioned in suicides by drug overdose were oxycodone, diphenhydramine, hydrocodone, and alprazolam.
Collapse
|
21
|
Jasuja GK, Ameli O, Miller DR, Land T, Bernson D, Rose AJ, Berlowitz DR, Smelson DA. Overdose risk for veterans receiving opioids from multiple sources. Am J Manag Care 2018; 24:536-540. [PMID: 30452210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate whether veterans in Massachusetts receiving opioids and/or benzodiazepines from both Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA pharmacies are at higher risk of adverse events compared with those receiving opioids at VHA pharmacies only. STUDY DESIGN A cohort study of veterans who filled a prescription for any Schedule II through V substance at a Massachusetts VHA pharmacy. Prescriptions were recorded in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Chapter 55 data set. METHODS The study sample included 16,866 veterans residing in Massachusetts, of whom 9238 (54.8%) received controlled substances from VHA pharmacies only and 7628 (45.2%) had filled prescriptions at both VHA and non-VHA pharmacies ("dual care users") between October 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. Our primary outcomes were nonfatal opioid overdose, fatal opioid overdose, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Compared with VHA-only users, more dual care users resided in rural areas (12.6% vs 10.6%), received high-dose opioid therapy (26.3% vs 7.3%), had concurrent prescriptions of opioids and benzodiazepines (34.8% vs 8.2%), and had opioid use disorder (6.8% vs 1.6%) (P <.0001 for all). In adjusted models, dual care users had higher odds of nonfatal opioid overdose (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% CI, 0.98-1.71) and all-cause mortality (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.43-1.93) compared with VHA-only users. Dual care use was not associated with fatal opioid overdoses. CONCLUSIONS Among veterans in Massachusetts, receipt of opioids from multiple sources was associated with worse outcomes, specifically nonfatal opioid overdose and mortality. Better information sharing between VHA and non-VHA pharmacies and prescribers has the potential to improve patient safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guneet K Jasuja
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Rd, Bedford, MA 01730.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ladapo JA, Larochelle MR, Chen A, Villalon MM, Vassar S, Huang DYC, Mafi JN. Physician Prescribing of Opioids to Patients at Increased Risk of Overdose From Benzodiazepine Use in the United States. JAMA Psychiatry 2018; 75:623-630. [PMID: 29710086 PMCID: PMC6137520 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Importance Recent increases in US opioid-related deaths underscore the need to understand drivers of fatal overdose. The initial prescription of opioids represents a critical juncture because it increases the risk of future opioid use disorder and is preventable. Objective To examine new opioid prescribing patterns in US patients at increased risk of overdose from benzodiazepine use. Design, Setting, and Participants This study used publicly available data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2015, to identify adults 20 years or older receiving new opioid prescriptions and concurrently using a benzodiazepine. Main Outcomes and Measures Population-based rates of new opioid prescriptions stratified by use of benzodiazepines. Results This study analyzed 13 146 visits, representing 214 million visits nationally, with a new opioid prescription. Rates of new opioid prescriptions among adults using a benzodiazepine increased from 189 to 351 per 1000 persons between 2005 and 2010 (rate difference, 162; 95% CI, 29-295; P = .02) and decreased to 172 per 1000 persons by 2015 (rate difference, -179; 95% CI, -310 to -48; P = .008). New opioid prescriptions in the general population not using benzodiazepines increased nonsignificantly from 78 to 93 per 1000 US persons between 2005 and 2010 (rate difference, 15; 95% CI, -3 to 33; P = .10) and decreased nonsignificantly to 79 per 1000 persons by 2015 (rate difference, -14; 95% CI, -38 to 11; P = .28). The likelihood of receiving a new opioid prescription during an ambulatory visit remained higher for patients concurrently using benzodiazepines compared with the general population after adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and diagnoses associated with pain (adjusted relative risk, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.56-2.15; P < .001). Naloxone was coprescribed in less than 1% of visits when a patient concurrently used a benzodiazepine. Conclusions and Relevance In 2010, new opioid prescriptions for US adults stopped increasing and began to decrease among higher-risk patients who used benzodiazepines. These patterns suggest that the recent increase in opioid-related deaths may be associated with factors other than physicians writing new opioid prescriptions. Nevertheless, prescribing among higher-risk patients still occurred at rates higher than rates in the general population, representing an important opportunity to improve quality of care for patients experiencing pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. Ladapo
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Marc R. Larochelle
- Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander Chen
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Melissa M. Villalon
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Stefanie Vassar
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
| | - David Y. C. Huang
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
| | - John N. Mafi
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
- RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kandel DB, Hu MC, Griesler P, Wall M. Increases from 2002 to 2015 in prescription opioid overdose deaths in combination with other substances. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 178:501-511. [PMID: 28719884 PMCID: PMC5568115 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescription opioid (PO) overdose deaths increased sharply over the last decade. Changes in PO deaths in combination with other psychoactive substances may provide a partial explanation. METHODS PO deaths from the National Multiple-Cause-of-Death Files for 2002-03 (N=15,973) and 2014-15 (N=41,491) were analyzed. We calculated (1) changes in proportions of deaths in combination with benzodiazepines, antidepressants, heroin, alcohol, cocaine between the two periods, and (2) proportions of increase in deaths attributable to each substance among PO and synthetic opioids other than methadone (SO-M) deaths, by age, gender, race/ethnicity. RESULTS Between 2002-03 and 2014-15, PO deaths increased 2.6 times; SO-M deaths 5.6 times, especially for ages 18-34, males, African-Americans. For PO deaths, most frequent combinations at both periods were with benzodiazepines; for SO-M, benzodiazepines, antidepressants in 2002-03, heroin, benzodiazepines in 2014-15. The largest increases occurred in combination with heroin among all PO (4.6% to 15.4%, change ratio=3.3[95%CI=3.1-3.6]), but especially SO-M deaths (1.2% to 24.5%, change ratio=21.3[95%CI=15.0-30.3]). Deaths involving cocaine decreased among PO, increased among SO-M deaths. One-fifth of increased PO or SO-M deaths were attributable to any of the five substances. Increased PO deaths were equally attributable to benzodiazepines and heroin; deaths attributable to heroin were higher among ages 18-49, males, and non-Hispanic whites. Increased SO-M deaths were attributable mostly to heroin among all groups. CONCLUSIONS Increased PO overdose deaths over the last decade may be partially explained by increased deaths in combination with other psychoactive substances. Use of other substances should be considered in efforts toward reducing prescription opioid overdoses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denise B Kandel
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Mei-Chen Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pamela Griesler
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Melanie Wall
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Curtin SC, Tejada-Vera B, Warmer M. Drug Overdose Deaths Among Adolescents Aged 15-19 in the United States: 1999-2015. NCHS Data Brief 2017:1-8. [PMID: 29155681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Drug overdose deaths in the United States are a pressing public health challenge (1–3). In particular, drug overdoses involving opioids have increased since 1999 (1). This report focuses specifically on drug overdose deaths for older adolescents aged 15–19. In 2015, 772 drug overdose deaths occurred in this age group. Rates for 1999–2015 are presented and trends compared for both females and males. Percent distributions of drug overdose deaths for 2015 by intent (e.g., unintentional, suicide, homicide) are presented. Trends in drug overdose death rates by type of drug involved are also presented.
Collapse
|
25
|
Bruno T, Pharr JR. Retrospective case series analysis of characteristics and trends in unintentional pharmaceutical drug poisoning by methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines in Clark County, NV 2009-13. J Public Health (Oxf) 2017; 39:304-311. [PMID: 27222239 PMCID: PMC5939872 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdw052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Poisoning has become the leading cause of injury death in the USA-with opioid analgesic involved in more fatal poisonings than any other drug, including cocaine and heroin. The epidemic of prescription drug poisonings is a public health concern. This study aimed to define potential high-risk groups for unintentional prescription drug poisoning by methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines. Methods A hospital-based retrospective case series analysis of admissions related to prescription drug poisonings associated with methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines for hospitals in Clark County, Nevada between 2009 and 2013 was employed. Results There were 7414 admissions with a primary diagnosis of an unintentional poisoning due to methadone, opioid analgesics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines. Women had the highest rate of admissions particularly in the 45-54 age group. Higher rates of admissions were also found among non-Hispanic whites, single and uninsured populations. There were concerning increases in admissions among 65+ and Native American/Alaskan Native subgroups in 2013. Benzodiazepines and opioid analgesics were the most prevalent drug categories for prescription drug poisoning admissions. Conclusion Public health professionals can utilize hospital data to identify populations at risk and in need of targeted interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Bruno
- Department of Global and Environmental Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Pharr
- Department of Global and Environmental Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Okumura Y, Sakata N, Takahashi K, Nishi D, Tachimori H. Epidemiology of overdose episodes from the period prior to hospitalization for drug poisoning until discharge in Japan: An exploratory descriptive study using a nationwide claims database. J Epidemiol 2017; 27:373-380. [PMID: 28242045 PMCID: PMC5549249 DOI: 10.1016/j.je.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about the nationwide epidemiology of the annual rate, causative substance, and clinical course of overdose-related admission. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of overdose episodes from the period prior to hospitalization for drug poisoning until discharge to home. Methods We assessed all cases of admission due to overdose (21,663 episodes) in Japan from October 2012 through September 2013 using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. Results The annual rate of overdose admission was 17.0 per 100,000 population. Women exhibited two peaks in admission rates at 19–34 years (40.9 per 100,000) and ≥75 years (27.8 per 100,000). Men exhibited one peak in the admission rate at ≥75 years (23.7 per 100,000). Within 90 days prior to overdose, ≥60% and ≥9% of patients aged 19–49 years received a prescription for benzodiazepines and barbiturates, respectively. In addition, 59% of patients aged ≥75 years received a prescription for benzodiazepines prior to overdose, 47% had a history of congestive heart failure, and 24% had a diagnosis of poisoning by cardiovascular drugs. The proportion of patients with recent psychiatric treatments decreased with age (65.1% in those aged 35–49 years and 13.9% in those aged ≥75 years). Conclusions The findings emphasize the need for overdose prevention programs that focus on psychiatric patients aged 19–49 years who are prescribed benzodiazepines or barbiturates and on non-psychiatric patients aged ≥75 years who are prescribed benzodiazepines or digitalis. Benzodiazepines were prescribed to ≥59% of overdose patients aged ≥19 years. Cardiovascular drugs were frequently ingested among overdose patients aged ≥75 years. The proportions of patients with recent psychiatric treatments decreased with age. Overdose prevention should be optimized according to the age-related differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Okumura
- Research Department, Institute for Health Economics and Policy, Association for Health Economics Research and Social Insurance and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Nobuo Sakata
- Research Department, Institute for Health Economics and Policy, Association for Health Economics Research and Social Insurance and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Takahashi
- Department of Biostatistics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nishi
- Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Hisateru Tachimori
- Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kinoshita H, Tanaka N, Takakura A, Abe H, Kumihashi M, Shibayama T, Jamal M, Ito A, Tsutsui K, Kimura S, Iwase H, Ameno K. An autopsy case of death by combined use of benzodiazepines and diphenidine. Soud Lek 2017; 62:40-43. [PMID: 29227117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present an autopsy case involving benzodiazepines and diphenidine. Quantitative toxicological analysis showed concentrations of 7-aminoflunitrazepam (a flunitrazepam metabolite), 7-aminonimetazepam (a nimetazepam metabolite), chlorpheniramine and diphenidine in femoral blood of 0.086 µg/ml, 0.027 µg/ml, 0.066 µg/ml, and 0.073 µg/ml, respectively. Death was attributed to combined toxicity due to the influence of multiple drug interactions.
Collapse
|
28
|
Warner M, Trinidad JP, Bastian BA, Minino AM, Hedegaard H. Drugs Most Frequently Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths: United States, 2010-2014. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2016; 65:1-15. [PMID: 27996932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Objectives-This report identifies the specific drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States from 2010 through 2014. Methods-The 2010-2014 National Vital Statistics System mortality files were linked to electronic files containing literal text information from death certificates. Drug overdose was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision underlying cause-of-death codes X40-X44 (unintentional), X60-X64 (suicide), X85 (homicide), and Y10-Y14 (undetermined intent). Among deaths with an underlying cause of death of drug overdose, the literal text in three fields of the death certificate (i.e., the cause of death from Part I, significant conditions contributing to death from Part II, and a description of how the injury occurred from Box 43) were searched to identify drug mentions. Search term lists were developed using existing drug classification systems as well as from manual review of the literal text. The search term list was then used to identify the specific drugs involved in overdose deaths. Descriptive statistics were reported for drug overdose deaths involving the 10 most frequently mentioned drugs on death certificates. Tables and figures presenting information on the specific drugs involved in deaths are based on deaths with mention of at least one specific drug on the death certificate. Results-From 2010 through 2014, the number of drug overdose deaths per year increased 23%, from 38,329 in 2010 to 47,055 in 2014. During this time period, the percentage of drug overdose deaths involving at least one specific drug increased, from 67% in 2010 to 78% in 2014. Among drug overdose deaths with at least one drug specified on the death certificate, the 10 drugs most frequently involved in overdose deaths included the following opioids: heroin, oxycodone, methadone, morphine, hydrocodone, and fentanyl; the following benzodiazepines: alprazolam and diazepam; and the following stimulants: cocaine and methamphetamine. During this 5-year period, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving heroin more than tripled, and the rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine more than doubled. The rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl more than doubled in a single year (from 2013 to 2014). In 2014, of the 36,667 drug overdose deaths involving at least one specific drug, 52% of these deaths specified one drug, 38% specified two or three drugs, and 11% specified four or more drugs. Conclusions-Analysis of the literal text from death certificates can be used to identify patterns in the specific drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths. From 2010 through 2014, the top 10 drugs involved were the same, but the relative ranking and age-adjusted rates for deaths involving these drugs changed. Literal text analysis also revealed that many drug overdose deaths involved multiple drugs. Findings should be interpreted in light of the improvement in the quality of the data that resulted from better reporting of specific drugs on death certificates from 2010 through 2014. Relative increases in the death rates involving specific drugs and the rankings of these drugs may be affected by improvements in reporting, real increases in the numbers of death, or both.
Collapse
|
29
|
Yarborough BJH, Stumbo SP, Janoff SL, Yarborough MT, McCarty D, Chilcoat HD, Coplan PM, Green CA. Understanding opioid overdose characteristics involving prescription and illicit opioids: A mixed methods analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend 2016; 167:49-56. [PMID: 27520885 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid abuse and misuse are significant public health issues. The CDC estimated 72% of pharmaceutical-related overdose deaths in the US in 2012 involved opioids. While studies of opioid overdoses have identified sociodemographic characteristics, agents used, administration routes, and medication sources associated with overdoses, we know less about the context and life circumstances of the people who experience these events. METHODS We analyzed interviews (n=87) with survivors of opioid overdoses or family members of decedents. Individuals experiencing overdoses were members of a large integrated health system. Using ICD codes for opioid overdoses and poisonings, we identified participants from five purposefully derived pools of health-plan members who had: 1) prescriptions for OxyContin(®) or single-ingredient sustained-release oxycodone, 2) oxycodone single-ingredient immediate release, 3) other long-acting opioids, 4) other short-acting opioids, or 5) no active opioid prescriptions. RESULTS Individuals who experienced opioid overdoses abused and misused multiple medications/drugs; experienced dose-related miscommunications or medication-taking errors; had mental health and/or substance use conditions; reported chronic pain; or had unstable resources or family/social support. Many had combinations of these risks. Most events involved polysubstance use, often including benzodiazepines. Accidental overdoses were commonly the result of abuse or misuse, some in response to inadequately treated chronic pain or, less commonly, medication-related mistakes. Suicide attempts were frequently triggered by consecutive negative life events. CONCLUSIONS To identify people at greater risk of opioid overdose, efforts should focus on screening for prescribed and illicit polysubstance use, impaired cognition, and changes in life circumstances, psychosocial risks/supports, and pain control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bobbi Jo H Yarborough
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
| | - Scott P Stumbo
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
| | - Shannon L Janoff
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
| | - Micah T Yarborough
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
| | - Dennis McCarty
- Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Hill Road, CB 669, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | | | - Paul M Coplan
- Purdue Pharma, L.P. One Stamford Forum, Stamford, CT 06901, USA.
| | - Carla A Green
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic that is reported to cause myopathy and raised creatine kinase (CK) levels. The prevalence and severity of acute myopathy after deliberate olanzapine ingestion are unclear. Therefore, we reviewed casenotes from 64 consecutive patients admitted to our institution after olanzapine overdose. Overall, serum CK was higher than five times the upper limit of normal in 17% of patients. The prevalence of raised CK values was positively correlated with the stated quantity of olanzapine ingested, suggesting a dose-dependent relationship for acute muscle toxicity. There was an apparent delay of 12 hours or more between olanzapine ingestion and the occurrence of maximum CK. Despite the high prevalence of acute muscle toxicity after olanzapine ingestion, none of the patients developed renal failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W S Waring
- Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Vukcević NP, Ercegović GV, Segrt Z, Djordjević S, Stosić JJ. Benzodiazepine poisoning in elderly. VOJNOSANIT PREGL 2016; 73:234-238. [PMID: 27295906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Benzodiazepines are among the most frequently ingested drugs in self-poisonings. Elderly may be at greater risk compared with younger individuals due to impaired metabolism and increased sensitivity to benzodiazepines. The aim of this study was to assess toxicity of benzodiazepines in elderly attempted suicide. METHODS A retrospective study of consecutive presentations to hospital after self-poisoning with benzodiazepines was done. Collected data consisted of patient's characteristics (age, gender), benzodiazepine ingested with its blood concentrations at admission, clinical findings including vital signs and Glasgow coma score, routine blood chemistry, complications of poisoning, details of management, length of hospital stay and outcome. According the age, patients are classified as young (15-40-year old), middle aged (41-65-year old) and elderly (older than 65). RESULTS During a 2-year observational period 387 patients were admitted because of pure benzodiazepine poisoning. The most frequently ingested drug was bromazepam, the second was diazepam. The incidence of coma was significantly higher, and the length of hospital stay significantly longer in elderly. Respiratory failure and aspiration pneumonia occurred more frequently in old age. Also, flumazenil was more frequently required in the group of elderly patients. CONCLUSION Massive benzodiazepines overdose in elderly may be associated with a significant morbidity, including deep coma with aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure, and even death. Flumazenil is indicated more often to reduce CNS depression and prevent complications of prolonged unconsciousness, but supportive treatment and proper airway management of comatose patients is the mainstay of the treatment of acute benzodiazepine poisoning.
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
We designed a population-based retrospective cohort study to investigate the association between the event of benzodiazepine (BZD) poisoning and the risk of acute pancreatitis.In the present study, 12,893 patients with BZD poisoning during 2000 to 2011 were enrolled and matched with 4 comparison patients according to mean age and sex. We determined the cumulative incidences and adjusted hazard ratios of acute pancreatitis.A significant association was observed between BZD poisoning and acute pancreatitis. After adjustment for potential risk factors, the patients with BZD poisoning had a 5.33-fold increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared with the controls without BZD poisoning (HR = 5.33, 95% CI = 2.26-12.60). The results revealed that acute pancreatitis in patients with BZD poisoning occurred in a follow-up time of ≤1 month (HR = 50.0, P < .001), and the risk of acute pancreatitis was no different between the patients with and without BZD poisoning when the follow-up time was >1 month (HR = 1.07, P > .05).This population-based study revealed the positive correlation between the event of BZD poisoning and an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. The findings warrant further large-scale and in-depth investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geng-Wang Liaw
- From the Department of Emergency Medicine (G-WL, D-ZH, W-KC), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Management Office for Health Data (C-LL), China Medical University Hospital, College of Medicine (C-LL), China Medical University, Taichung, Department of Family Medicine (I-CL), Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, School of Medicine (I-CL), Chung Shan Medical University, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center (C-HK), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung; and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science (C-HK), College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Jones CM, McAninch JK. Emergency Department Visits and Overdose Deaths From Combined Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines. Am J Prev Med 2015; 49:493-501. [PMID: 26143953 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs most commonly associated with drug overdose deaths. This study was conducted to assess trends in nonmedical use-related emergency department (ED) visits and drug overdose deaths that involved both opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines in the U.S. from 2004 to 2011. METHODS Opioid analgesic and benzodiazepine nonmedical use-related ED visits from the Drug Abuse Warning Network and drug overdose deaths from the National Vital Statistics System were analyzed for 2004-2011 to determine trends and demographic-specific rates. Data were analyzed from March 2014 to June 2014. RESULTS From 2004 to 2011, the rate of nonmedical use-related ED visits involving both opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines increased from 11.0 to 34.2 per 100,000 population (p-trend<0.0001). During the same period, drug overdose deaths involving both drugs increased from 0.6 to 1.7 per 100,000 (p-trend<0.0001). Statistically significant increases in ED visits occurred among males and females, non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics, and all age groups except 12- to 17-year-olds. For overdose deaths, statistically significant increases were seen in males and females, all three race/ethnicity groups, and all age groups except 12- to 17-year-olds. Benzodiazepine involvement in opioid analgesic overdose deaths increased each year, increasing from 18% of opioid analgesic overdose deaths in 2004 to 31% in 2011 (p-trend<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS ED visits and drug overdose deaths involving both opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines increased significantly between 2004 and 2011. Interventions to improve the appropriate prescribing and use of these medications are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Jones
- Office of the Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland.
| | - Jana K McAninch
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Fields MD, Abate MA, Hu L, Long DL, Blommel ML, Haikal NA, Kraner JC. Parent and Metabolite Opioid Drug Concentrations in Unintentional Deaths Involving Opioid and Benzodiazepine Combinations. J Forensic Sci 2015; 60:950-6. [PMID: 26223761 PMCID: PMC4944848 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2013] [Revised: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Effects of benzodiazepines on postmortem opioid parent and parent/metabolite blood concentration ratios were determined for fentanyl-, hydrocodone-, methadone-, or oxycodone-related accidental deaths. These opioids are partially metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme system, which is also affected by diazepam and alprazolam. Opioid/metabolite combinations examined were as follows: fentanyl/norfentanyl, hydrocodone/dihydrocodeine, methadone/EDDP, and oxycodone/oxymorphone. Parent opioid concentrations were analyzed for 877 deaths. Parent/metabolite concentration ratios were analyzed for 349 deaths, excluding cases with co-intoxicants present known to interfere with opioid elimination. Alprazolam in combination with diazepam significantly decreased median hydrocodone concentrations by 48% (p = 0.01) compared to hydrocodone alone. The methadone parent/metabolite concentration ratio was reduced by 35% in the presence of diazepam compared to methadone alone (p = 0.03). Benzodiazepines did not statistically significantly affect fentanyl or oxycodone concentrations. Possible factors affecting opioid concentrations and possible toxicity development, including any differential effects on specific opioids, should continue to be explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia D. Fields
- West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, 1124 Health Sciences North, Morgantown, WV
| | - Marie A. Abate
- West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, 1124 Health Sciences North, Morgantown, WV
| | - Lan Hu
- West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV
| | - D. Leann Long
- West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV
| | - Matthew L. Blommel
- West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, 1124 Health Sciences North, Morgantown, WV
| | - Nabila A. Haikal
- West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Charleston, WV
| | - James C. Kraner
- West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Charleston, WV
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chen LH, Hedegaard H, Warner M. Drug-poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics: United States, 1999-2011. NCHS Data Brief 2014:1-8. [PMID: 25228059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Data from the National Vital Statistics System, Mortality File. The age-adjusted rate for opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths nearly quadrupled from 1.4 per 100,000 in 1999 to 5.4 per 100,000 in 2011. Although the opioid-analgesic poisoning death rates increased each year from 1999 through 2011, the rate of increase has slowed since 2006. Natural and semisynthetic opioid analgesics, such as hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone, were involved in 11,693 drug-poisoning deaths in 2011, up from 2,749 deaths in 1999. Benzodiazepines were involved in 31% of the opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths in 2011, up from 13% of the opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths in 1999. During the past decade, adults aged 55-64 and non-Hispanic white persons experienced the greatest increase in the rates of opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths. Poisoning is the leading cause of injury death in the United States (1). Drugs-both illicit and pharmaceutical-are the major cause of poisoning deaths, accounting for 90% of poisoning deaths in 2011. Misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, including opioid-analgesic pain relievers, is responsible for much of the recent increase in drug-poisoning deaths (2). This report highlights trends in drug-poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics (referred to as opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths) and updates previous Data Briefs on this topic.
Collapse
|
36
|
Yagi K. [Flumazenil]. Chudoku Kenkyu 2014; 27:231-236. [PMID: 27526520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
|
37
|
McCarthy M. Overdose deaths drop after Florida cracks down on prescribers. BMJ 2014; 349:g4425. [PMID: 24993049 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g4425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
38
|
Shih HI, Lin MC, Lin CC, Hsu HC, Lee HL, Chi CH, Sung FC, Chang YJ, Kao CH. Benzodiazepine therapy in psychiatric outpatients is associated with deliberate self-poisoning events at emergency departments-a population-based nested case-control study. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 229:665-71. [PMID: 23657424 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP), the most common form of deliberate self-harm, is closely associated with suicide. Identifying risk factors of DSP is necessary for implementing prevention strategies. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between benzodiazepine (BZD) treatment in psychiatric outpatients and DSP cases at emergency departments (EDs). METHODS We performed a retrospective nested case-control study of psychiatric patients receiving BZD therapy to evaluate the relationship between BZD use and the diagnosis of DSP at EDs using data from the nationwide Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. RESULTS Regression analysis yielded an odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) indicating that the use of BZDs in psychiatric outpatients was significantly associated with DSP cases at EDs (OR = 4.46, 95 % CI = 3.59-5.53). Having a history of DSP, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder was associated with a DSP diagnosis at EDs (OR = 13.27, 95 % CI = 8.28-21.29; OR = 5.04, 95 % CI = 4.25-5.98; OR = 3.95, 95 % CI = 3.32-4.70; OR = 7.80, 95 % CI = 5.28-11.52; OR = 15.20, 95 % CI = 12.22-18.91; and OR = 18.48, 95 % CI = 10.13-33.7, respectively). After adjusting for potential confounders, BZD use remained significantly associated with a subsequent DSP diagnosis (adjusted OR = 2.47, 95 % CI = 1.93-3.17). Patients taking higher average cumulative BZD doses were at greater risk of DSP. CONCLUSION Vigilant evaluation of the psychiatric status of patients prescribed with BZD therapy is critical for the prevention of DSP events at EDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-I Shih
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Augustin P, Desmard M, Arapis K, Fournier P, Ribeiro-Parenti L, Montravers P. Prolonged benzodiazepine coma as a complication of morbid obesity. Obes Surg 2013; 23:1452-3. [PMID: 23633162 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-013-0949-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
40
|
|
41
|
Burillo-Putze G, López-Hernández A, Expósito-Rodríguez M, Dueñas-Laita A. [Chemical submission, opportunistic or premeditated]. Med Clin (Barc) 2012; 140:139. [PMID: 22981083 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2012.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2012] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
42
|
Singh LK, Praharaj SK, Sahu M. Nonfatal suicidal overdose of olanzapine in an adolescent. Curr Drug Saf 2012; 7:328-329. [PMID: 23062245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 09/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The atypical antipsychotic olanzapine is increasingly being used for various psychiatric conditions. There are few reports of olanzapine overdose in adolescent population. We report a case of 16-year-old adolescent who ingested 750 mg olanzapine, the highest reported nonlethal dose of olanzapine in adolescents. He presented with tachycardia, hypotension, generalized myoclonus, hyperpyrexia, muscular rigidity, leukocytosis and elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. He recovered from the toxicity with minimal intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lokesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College & Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar MemorialHospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 492001, India
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Dassanayake TL, Michie PT, Jones AL, Mallard T, Whyte IM, Carter GL. Cognitive skills underlying driving in patients discharged following self-poisoning with central nervous system depressant drugs. Traffic Inj Prev 2012; 13:450-457. [PMID: 22931174 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2012.671983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Central nervous system-depressant (CNS-Ds) drugs can impair cognitive functions and driving. They are also the most common drugs taken in overdose in hospital-treated episodes of self-poisoning. In Australia most of these patients are discharged within 48 h, while they still have possible subclinical drug effects. We aimed to determine whether patients treated for self-poisoning with CNS-Ds are impaired in the Trail-Making Test (TMT, parts A and B), a neuropsychological test that is known to correlate with driving performance. METHODS This study was a conducted from November 2008 to April 2011 in a referral center for poisonings in New South Wales, Australia. One hundred seven patients discharged from the clinical toxicology unit following treatment for self-poisoning of CNS-Ds (benzodiazepines, atypical antipsychotics, or opioids) and a control group of 68 discharged following self-poisoning of non-CNS-depressant drugs (acetaminophen or nonsedating antidepressants) were tested with the TMT (parts A and B). Due to the known association of impaired TMT with driving impairment and increased risk of traffic accidents, performance less than the 10th percentile for age was defined as significant impairment in each part of the TMT. The odds ratio (OR) for impairment in each part was calculated in multivariate logistic regression (MLR) models adjusted for gender, education, IQ, and the presence of a major psychiatric illness. A secondary MLR analysis was conducted only for those patients (78 CNS-D and 54 control group participants) who were directly discharged home, after excluding those who were transferred for further psychiatric care. RESULTS The odds of impairment in the CNS-D group was 2.8 times that of the control group on the TMT-A (38 [35.5%] vs. 11 [16.2%]: adjusted OR = 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-5.97), and 4.6 times on the TMT-B (67 [62.6%] vs. 22 [32.4%]: adjusted OR = 4.63, 95% CI: 2.06-10.42). The results were similar in the subgroup of patients discharged home, and the odds of impairment in the CNS-D group was 3.3 times that of the control group on the TMT-A (25 [32.1%] vs. 7 [13.0%]: adjusted OR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.28-8.52), and 3.6 times on the TMT-B (46 [59.0%] vs. 17 [31.5%]: adjusted OR = 3.64, 95% CI: 1.44-9.20). TMT-B impairment in the CNS-D group remained significant even after adjusting for TMT-A performance. CONCLUSIONS Patients with CNS-D overdose may have significant impairment in cognitive skills underlying driving at the time of discharge from hospitals. Clinicians should warn these patients that their driving skills might still be impaired, even if they are considered clinically recovered and advise them not to drive during the first 1 to 2 days following discharge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tharaka L Dassanayake
- School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Eizadi-Mood
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Puha G, Hurjui J, Lupuşoru CE, Sorodoc L. [The effects of ethanol on the evolution of the acute benzodiazepine poisoning]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2011; 115:1080-1084. [PMID: 22276450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The depressing effects on the nervous central system (NCS) induced by benzodiazepines and ethanol are similar. The complications are rare in the benzodiazepine poisoning, but are a lot more frequent in association with other depressing drugs for the NCS (especially alcohol). MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed retrospectively patients with benzodiazepine poisoning admitted in the Internal Medicine Clinic - Toxicology during 2003 - 2009.The study attempted a complex evaluation of the consequences of acute and chronic alcoholism on the evolution of acute benzodiazepinepoisoning and the description of the clinic evolution and paraclinical particularities of the patients under investigation. RESULTS 343 patients with benzodiazepine poisoning were admitted, 150 were tested through measurement of alcohol level, leading to values between 1 - 415 mg/dl. Chronic alcoholism in personal pathological antecedents of the patients determined a relative risk of intoxication 1.46 times higher. The hospitalization period varied from 1 to 8 days for patients with chronic alcoholism and from 1 to 14 days for patients with acute alcoholism, a statistically important difference. CONCLUSIONS During the period under investigation, from the total of patients admitted for acute benzodiazepine poisoning, 2 deaths were registered. Of the two deaths, one patient showed ethanol coingestion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Puha
- Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţe "Sf. Ioan" Iaşi, Clinica de Medicină Internă-Toxicologie
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Benzodiazepine (BZD) overdose (OD) continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the UK. Flumazenil is an effective antidote but there is a risk of seizures, particularly in those who have co-ingested tricyclic antidepressants. A study was undertaken to examine the frequency of use, safety and efficacy of flumazenil in the management of BZD OD in the UK. METHODS A 2-year retrospective cohort study was performed of all enquiries to the UK National Poisons Information Service involving BZD OD. RESULTS Flumazenil was administered to 80 patients in 4504 BZD-related enquiries, 68 of whom did not have ventilatory failure or had recognised contraindications to flumazenil. Factors associated with flumazenil use were increased age, severe poisoning and ventilatory failure. Co-ingestion of tricyclic antidepressants and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease did not influence flumazenil administration. Seizure frequency in patients not treated with flumazenil was 0.3%. The frequency of prior seizure in flumazenil-treated patients was 30 times higher (8.8%). Seven patients who had seizures prior to flumazenil therapy had no recurrence of their seizures. Ventilation or consciousness improved in 70% of flumazenil-treated patients. Flumazenil administration was followed by one instance each of agitation and brief seizure. CONCLUSIONS Flumazenil is used infrequently in the management of BZD OD in the UK. It was effective and associated with a low incidence of seizure. These results compare favourably with the results of published randomised controlled trials and cohort studies, although previous studies have not reported the use of flumazenil in such a high-risk population. This study should inform the continuing review of national guidance on flumazenil therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aravindan Veiraiah
- NPIS Edinburgh (Scottish Poisons Information Bureau), The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
|
48
|
Ciszowski K, Sein Anand J. [Electrocardiographic abnormalities in acute olanzapine poisonings]. Przegl Lek 2011; 68:422-425. [PMID: 22010429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for many years in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Poisonings with this medicine can results with cardiotoxic effects in the form of ECG abnormalities. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the nature and incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with acute olanzapine poisoning. MATERIAL 23 adult (mean age 38.4 +/- 15.5 years) patients with acute olanzapine poisoning, including 10 men (30.4 +/- 8.1 years) and 11 women (45.7 +/- 17.2 years), where 1 man and 1 woman were poisoned twice. The toxic serum level of olanzapine (above 100 ng/mL) was confirmed in each patient. METHODS Evaluation of electrocardiograms performed in patients in the first day of hospitalization with automatic measurement of durations of PQ, QRS and QTc and the identification of arrhythmias and conduction disorders on the basis of visual analysis of the ECG waveforms. Statistical analysis of the results using the methods of descriptive statistics. RESULTS The mean durations of PQ, QRS and QTc in the study group were as follows: 135 +/- 23 ms, 91 +/- 12 ms, and 453 +/- 48 ms, respectively. The most common ECG abnormalities were prolonged QTc and supraventricular tachycardia (including sinus tachycardia) - each 22%; less common were ST-T changes (17%) and supraventricular premature complexes (9%), and only in individual cases (4%) ventricular premature complexes, bundle branch block, sinus bradycardia and atrial fibrillation were present. CONCLUSIONS In the course of acute olanzapine poisonings: (1) prolonged QTc interval is quite common, but rarely leads to torsade de pointes tachycardia; (2) fast supraventricular rhythms are also common, but rarely cause irregular tachyarrhythmias, eg. atrial fibrillation; (3) conduction disorders (atrioventricular blocks, bundle branch blocks) are not typical abnormalities; (4) the observed ECG abnormalities emphasize the need of continuous ECG monitoring in these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Ciszowski
- Klinika Toksykologii i Chorób Srodowiskowych, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Collegium Medicum w Krakowie.
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ciszowski K, Sein Anand J, Wilimowska J, Jawień W. [Laboratory investigations in acute olanzapine poisonings]. Przegl Lek 2011; 68:417-421. [PMID: 22010428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic with multireceptor affinity and different pharmacological effects, which can result with abnormalities in laboratory investigations. AIM OF THE STUDY To assess the nature and frequency of laboratory tests abnormalities in patients with an acute olanzapine poisoning. MATERIAL 26 adult cases (mean age 37.7 +/- 15.3 years) of an acute olanzapine poisoning (serum level above 100 ng/mL). Group consisted of 11 men and 13 women, but 1 man and 1 woman were poisoned twice. METHODS Prospective analysis of the following laboratory parameters: complete blood count (CBC), coagulation tests (APTT, INR), serum concentration of sodium, potassium, chlorides, glucose, BUN, creatinine and bilirubin, serum activity of AST, ALT, GGTP and CPK, urinalysis. RESULTS The most common laboratory abnormalities in the study group were: hyperglycaemia (96%), hyper-prolactinaemia (83%), elevated CPK (80%), hypokalaemia (75%), hyperbilirubinaemia (60%), leukocytosis (55%). Less frequent parameters were: elevated AST (20%), hyponatraemia (15%), elevated ALT(10%) and thrombocytopenia (5%). The onset of some parameters was as follows: 1st day of hospitalization hyperglycaemia, leukocytosis and hypokalaemia, 2nd - hyperbilirubinaemia and elevated CPK, and 3rd - hyperprolactinaemia. CONCLUSIONS In acute olanzapine poisonings: (1) muscle and liver injury, serum glucose and electrolytes abnormalities, and changes in CBC can be present; (2) the valuable parameters for the monitoring of the course of poisonings are: serum activity of CPK and transaminases (AST, ALT), serum level of bilirubin, glucose, potassium and sodium, and CBC; (3) hyperprolactinaemia probably lacks of practical importance, but the further investigations are needed in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Ciszowski
- Klinika Toksykologii i Chorób Srodowiskowych, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Collegium Medicum w Krakowie.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Ciszowski K, Sein Anand J, Wilimowska J, Jawień W. [The clinical picture of acute olanzapine poisonings]. Przegl Lek 2011; 68:426-433. [PMID: 22010430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olanzapine is a second generation antipsychotic of thienobenzodiazepin group, which is used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and others, mainly psychiatric. Its multireceptor action (antagonism to dopaminergic D1, D2, D4, serotoninergic 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, histaminergic H1, cholinergic M1-5, and a1--adrenergic receptors) results in multiple clinical symptoms in the course of acute poisoning. AIM OF THE STUDY Evaluation of incidence and intensity of clinical symptoms in patients with of acute olanzapine intoxication. The pathophysiological mechanisms of particular symptoms are also described. MATERIAL 26 patients (mean age 37.7 +/- 15.3 years) hospitalized in 2005-2008 in toxicological centers in Krakow and Gdansk because of acute olanzapine poisoning (all patients had the toxic serum level of olanzapine above 100 ng/mL). The study group consisted of 11 men (29.3 +/- 8.5 years) and 13 women (44.9 +/- 16.4 years); 1 man and 1 woman were poisoned twice. METHODS Prospective analysis (using descriptive statistics) of data taken from medical anamnesis and results of physical examination, considering the following ones: consciousness disturbances (Glasgow Coma Scale, Matthew's scale, qualitative disturbances), vital signs (arterial blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, temperature), neurological findings (muscular tension, tendon reflexes, extrapyramidal symptoms, pupils) and others (oral and bronchial secretion, Poisoning Severity Score). RESULTS The mean dose of ingested olanzapine in the study group was 352.5 +/- 220.0 mg, while the mean time since ingestion to hospital admission was 4.4 +/- 3.5 h. The half of the patients took other medicines together with olanzapine, and 23% consumed alcohol, as well. The following intensity of quantitative consciousness disturbances according to Matthew's scale were observed: grade 0 - 8%, I - 15%, II - 23%, III - 50%, and IV - 4%. The minimal and maximal values of blood pressure were: 102/63 +/- 16/14 and 163/ 97 +/- 27/18 mmHg, respectively; heart rate: 77 +/- 15 and 138 +/- 22 beats/min; temperature: 36.3 +/- 0.5 and 37.9 +/- 0.8 degrees C; breathing rate in non-intubated patients: 14 +/- 2 and 22 +/- 7 breaths/min. The mean duration of consciousness disturbances, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were: 44.9 +/- 31.3; 22.0 +/- 33.3 and 7.0 +/- 25.9 h, respectively. The study revealed tachycardia (85%), psychomotor agitation (81%), hypertension (73%), miosis (65%), and coma (54%) as the most common symptoms of poisoning. The hospitalization of poisoned patients lasted on average 5.7 +/- 3.6 days and the half of them were poisoned severely (PSS 3). CONCLUSIONS In the course of acute olanzapine poisoning: (1) the prevailing symptoms come from circulatory and central nervous systems; (2) some symptoms are mutually opposed, eg.: coma - psychomotor agitation, hypertension - hypotension, tachycardia - bradycardia, hyperthermia - hypothermia, miosis - mydriasis; (3) rarely consciousness disturbances may persist for up to 6 days after olanzapine overdose; (4) the course of poisoning can be severe, sometimes complicated, but fatal outcomes are rare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Ciszowski
- Klinika Toksykologii i Chorób Srodowiskowych, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Collegium Medicum w Krakowie.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|