The combination of dextropropoxyphene and paracetamol, marketed as Distalgesic, once a popular analgesic, is now less commonly prescribed. Each tablet contains 32-5mg of dextropropoxyphene and 325mg of paracetamol. Overdoses with this preparation were common in the late seventies, though nowadays are rarely seen. ' Overdoses of as little as twenty tablets very often led to death within thirty m...

Introduction The UK has one of the highest deliberate self-poisoning overdoses within Europe [1]. The majority of them have a short length of stay with a low mortality. Patients commonly present with a reduced GCS, triggering the order for a CT scan. This is generally despite the absence of lateralising neurology, leading to multiple scans, especially for recurrent overdoses, often providing li...

BACKGROUND Suicide attempts and non-fatal overdoses are both associated with substance use. The aim of the present study was to examine correlates of suicide attempts and non-fatal overdoses simultaneously among individuals seeking addictions treatment. METHODS A large U.S. national sample of individuals entering addictions treatment participated in a cross-sectional survey (n=5892). Multinom...

Due to the severe consequences of potential overdoses paracetamol (PCM) on human body, measurement PCM in pharmaceutical and biological samples is essential.

On July 22, 2016, President Barack Obama signed a bill into law that could have the potential to impact our practice. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) is aimed at curbing the national opioid epidemic, a troubling phenomenon leading to increased deaths from drug overdoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that almost 500,000 people died of drug overd...

Calcium channel antagonists (CCAs) are commonly involved in drug overdoses. Standard approaches to the management of CCA overdoses, including fluid resuscitation, gut decontamination, administration of calcium, glucagon, and atropine, as well as supportive care, are often ineffective. We report on two patients who improved after addition of hyperinsulinemia-euglycemia (HIE) therapy. We conclude...

Although fatal and non-fatal overdoses represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality, current systems of surveillance and communication in Canada provide inadequate measurement of drug trends and lack a timely response to drug-related hazards. In order for an effective early warning system for illicit drug overdoses to become a reality, a number of elements will be required: real-ti...

BACKGROUND The management of pain patients with analgesics is challenging, with one of the risks being overdose with prescribed medications and death. In this study, we examined relationships between pain and pain catastrophizing, and past history of intentional overdoses and suicide attempts. METHOD Using a cross-sectional approach and a self-report survey methodology, we examined 239 consec...

Measuring mix-ups blamed for overdoses of insulin.

BACKGROUND Mortality increases as ambient temperature increases. Because cocaine affects core body temperature, ambient temperature may play a role in cocaine-related mortality in particular. The present study examined the association between ambient temperature and fatal overdoses over time in New York City. METHODS Mortality data were obtained from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner f...