Drug and addictive substance poisoning with medical pharmacologist assessment

Abstract

Purpose: Poisoning is a medical emergency that represent a major health problem all over the world. The rate of poisoning with prescription and non-prescription drugs, and addictive substances are increasing day by day. Methods: This paper summarizes drugs and addictive substances that often cause poisoning in 2017 and their pharmacological properties. Results: Among all the poisonings, drug poisonings were the first in adults and third in children age 5 years or less. Analgesics were the most common drug poisoning in both populations. Considering the etiology of drug poisoning, the ranking is as follows: sedative-hypnotics/ antipsychotics, opioids and other addictive substances, alcohols, calcium channel blockers and acetaminophen (paracetamol). Amphetamines were the most frequent poisoning substances in addictive substances. Analgesics are the cause of poisoning that results in death at age 5 or less. Major conclusions: Although paracetamol, one of the analgesics, which is sold over the counter, ranks 6th among the fatal poisonings, it is in the first place among drug poisonings in all age groups, probably because of its easy access and cheapness.

Keywords

• Acetaminophen,Amphetamine,Calcium channel blockers,Medication,Poisoning,Tricyclic antidepressants

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