Acute drug overdose: one hospital's experience

A retrospective review of all patients admitted to an urban teaching hospital emergency department with the complaint of overdose, poisoning, or ingestion during a 10-month period was conducted. Analysis of these 82 episodes involving 69 individuals revealed: 1) a preponderance of women in the 20- to 40-year old range; 2) poly-drug character of the ingestion, with alcohol the most common secondary drug; 3) increased utilization of antidepressants and minor tranquilizers and decreased use of barbiturates; 4) non-concordance between drug history of ingested drug and toxicological findings. All patients survived and there was no apparent residual morbidity. Except for one patient requiring hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, all patients were treated with aggressive supportive care.     

Pentazocine overdose

A patient who ingested 1.5 g pentazocine developed status epilepticus, coma, respiratory depression, acidosis, profound hypotension, and ventricular arrhythmias. Although this patient survived after institution of general supportive measures, she did not respond to usual doses of naloxone. We describe the clinical symptoms and course of recovery of a patient with pentazocine overdose. Our case suggests that pentazocine overdose may require higher doses of naloxone (5 to 20 mg) than are customarily used for narcotic overdoses.     

Baclofen overdose

Reported is a case of baclofen overdose in a 23-year-old woman. The patient manifested typical symptoms of baclofen overdose, including hypotonia, respiratory depression, and seizures. She was treated successfully with positive pressure ventilation, sedation, and intravenous antibiotics, and was discharged from the hospital on the 14th day following admission with no residual neurological signs, to be followed up in medical and psychiatric outpatient clinics. As baclofen becomes increasingly popular in the treatment of muscle spasm in certain neurological disorders, its availability for misuse increases.     

Seizures due to maprotiline overdose

Maprotiline, a new tetracyclic antidepressant, has a pattern of toxicity that is different from that of tricyclics. Maprotiline overdosage appears more likely to cause seizures but less likely to cause the peripheral autonomic and cardiac manifestations seen with tricyclics. Two cases of maprotiline overdose resulting in seizures without significant anticholinergic or cardiotoxic effects are presented. Both patients were treated acutely with gastric emptying and were observed to have no further seizures during subsequent drug-free hospital and outpatient follow up. Physostigmine salicylate has been used as an antidote for the anticholinergic syndrome of tricyclic overdose, but probably offers less in maprotiline overdose. Careful observation for seizures appears to be warranted.     

Beta blocker overdose with propranolol and with atenolol

During a one-month period, two cases of beta-adrenergic blocker overdose were treated by the emergency staff at our hospital. One case of propranolol intoxication demonstrated profound cardiovascular collapse and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The condition failed to respond to high-dose intravenous pressor agents, but did improve significantly with IV glucagon infusion. The second overdose involved atenolol. Although the blood levels reported were very high, the patient showed no cardiovascular compromise and required only inhaled bronchodilators for an exacerbation of her asthma.     

Recent life problems and non-fatal overdose among heroin users entering treatment

AIMS: To investigate the role of recent life problems in non-fatal overdose among heroin users entering various drug treatment settings. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study investigating drug treatment effectiveness. SETTING: Five prison drug treatment services, three residential rehabilitation units, three residential detoxification units and 21 community drug treatment services located in rural, urban and inner-city areas of Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: Of a total of 793 primary heroin users commencing drug treatment during 2001-02, 337 (42.5%) were prison drug service clients; 91 (11.5%) were residential rehabilitation clients; 97 (12.2%) were residential detoxification clients; and 268 (33.8%) were community drug treatment clients. MEASUREMENTS: Univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses examined associations between overdosing in the 90 days prior to treatment entry and basic demographic characteristics, recent drug use and recent life problems. FINDINGS: Ninety-one study participants (11.5%) reported at least one overdose and 19 (2.4%) reported more than one overdose in the 90 days prior to treatment entry. A chi2 test revealed no significant difference in rates of recent overdosing between the four treatment settings (P = 0.650). Recent drug use and recent life problems-but not demographic characteristics-were associated independently with recent overdosing. However, recent life problems were not associated independently with recent overdosing among clients entering prison, clients entering residential rehabilitation or with multiple recent overdosing. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between recent life problems and recent overdose were evident, but varied by treatment setting. Treatment providers should identify and address heroin users' life problems as part of a broad strategy of overdose prevention.     

Isoniazid overdose treated with high-dose pyridoxine

Large doses of pyridoxine recently have been shown to prevent the seizures and acidosis caused by ingestion of more than two to three grams of isoniazid. We present three cases of massive isoniazid ingestion, producing seizures and acidosis, that were treated successfully by administration of one gram of pyridoxine intravenously for each gram of isoniazid ingested.     

Transient changes in behaviour lead to heroin overdose: results from a case-crossover study of non-fatal overdose

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Heroin overdose is a serious consequence of heroin use and one of the leading causes of premature death and illness in Australia. Despite considerable research effort little is known about the effects of transient changes in heroin user behaviour and the links to overdose. This research is the first to use a suitable methodology to allow such ephemeral changes and their effects on non-fatal heroin overdose to be examined. METHODS: A case-crossover design was used in which non-fatal heroin overdose survivors' recall of risk behaviours in the 12 hours prior to overdose (hazard period) was compared to their recall of risk behaviours in the 12 hours prior to a selected non-overdose heroin injection (control period). RESULTS: A total of 155 participants were able to provide valid details of hazard and control periods. A dose-response relationship was observed between the self-reported amount of heroin used and likelihood of overdose (e.g. > AUD50, OR 12.97, 95% CI 2.54-66.31). The use of benzodiazepines (OR 28, 95% CI 3.81-205.79) or alcohol (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.29-6.43), during the hazard period was related to overdose risk, but the effect of alcohol was attenuated by the effect of benzodiazepines. Shifting from private to public locations between control and hazard periods was also related to increased risk of overdose (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.66-7.93). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the value of a new methodology to explore heroin overdose, as well as discussing its limitations and ways to overcome them in future. In terms of our findings, overdose prevention messages need to highlight the impact of these transient changes in behaviour and to emphasize the risks of using higher doses of heroin as well as continuing to emphasize the risks of combining heroin with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Safer environments for heroin use, such as injecting rooms, may also reduce the chances of overdose.     

Cocaine intoxication: massive oral overdose

Massive cocaine intoxication is manifested by central nervous system stimulation (restlessness, tremors, convulsions) and then depression (respiratory and cardiovascular failure). A young man presented with new seizures and eventual development of status epilepticus, respiratory failure, and cardiovascular depression. Investigation revealed ingestion of cocaine-filled condoms which had ruptured in the gastrointestinal tract. Smuggling of illicit drugs via the oral-fecal route may lead to severe physiologic derangements if the container ruptures.     

Distinguishing signs of opioid overdose and indication for naloxone: an evaluation of six overdose training and naloxone distribution programs in the United States

AIMS: This study assessed overdose and naloxone administration knowledge among current or former opioid abusers trained and untrained in overdose-response in the United States. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Ten individuals, divided equally between those trained or not trained in overdose recognition and response, were recruited from each of six sites (n = 62). SETTING: US-based overdose training and naloxone distribution programs in Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and New Mexico. MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed a brief questionnaire on overdose knowledge that included the task of rating 16 putative overdose scenarios for: (i) whether an overdose was occurring and (ii) if naloxone was indicated. Bivariate and multivariable analyses compared results for those trained to untrained. Responses were also compared to those of 11 medical experts using weighted and unweighted kappa statistics. FINDINGS: Respondents were primarily male (72.6%); 45.8% had experienced an overdose and 72% had ever witnessed an overdose. Trained participants recognized more opioid overdose scenarios accurately (t(60) = 3.76, P < 0.001) and instances where naloxone was indicated (t(59) = 2.2, P < 0.05) than did untrained participants. Receipt of training and higher perceived competency in recognizing signs of an opioid overdose were associated independently with higher overdose recognition scores. Trained respondents were as skilled as medical experts in recognizing opioid overdose situations (weighted kappa = 0.85) and when naloxone was indicated (kappa = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that naloxone training programs in the United States improve participants' ability to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses in the community. Drug users with overdose training and confidence in their abilities to respond may effectively prevent overdose mortality.