OBJECTIVE The availability of suicide methods affects the risk of suicide attempts. This study examined the patterns of substances ingested by suicide attempters (SAs) and the characteristics of SAs using psychotropic overdoses. METHODS Data for 384 of the 462 eligible SAs who used self-poisoning were analyzed. Demographic variables, clinical characteristics, and factors related to the suicid...

BACKGROUND Persons who use opioids have a high risk of overdose and associated mortality. In Vietnam, little is known about the characteristics of this population and the persons who are witness to those overdoses. One approach to combatting fatal overdose has been the use of peer interventions in which a friend or injecting partner administers overdose reversal medication, but availability in ...

We report a case of acute renal failure in a patient with labetalol overdose, discuss the possible pathogenesis, and highlight special considerations in the management of labetalol overdose as compared with other beta-blocking agent overdoses.

Drug users frequently witness the nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses of their peers, but often fail to intervene effectively to reduce morbidity and mortality. We assessed the circumstances of witnessed heroin-related overdoses in New York City (NYC) among a predominantly minority population of drug users. Among 1184 heroin, crack, and cocaine users interviewed between November 2001 and February...

UNLABELLED Naloxone frequently is used to treat suspected heroin and opioid overdoses in the out-of-hospital setting. The authors' emergency medical services system has operated a policy of allowing these patients, when successfully treated, to sign out against medical advice (AMA) in the field. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the safety of this AMA policy. METHODS This is a retrospective review of ...

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological variables and repetition of deliberate self-harm by adolescents (n=45) aged 13-18 years who had been admitted to a general hospital having taken overdoses. Standardized measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal intent, impulsivity, trait and state anger, self-esteem and problem-solving (both self-report and observe...

INTRODUCTION Aspirin overdose, though now infrequently encountered, nevertheless continues to contribute to significant morbidity and mortality. The patient described in this case report intentionally ingested overdoses of aspirin on repeated occasions. The case provided an unusual and possibly one-of-a-kind opportunity to focus on the variability in the time course of plasma salicylate concent...

Blood specimens from 146 suspected gamma.hydroxybutyrate (GHB) overdose cases, presenting to an emergency department in Washington State over a 12-month period, were analyzed for GHB and other drugs. Of these 146 patients, GHB was confirmed in approximately one-third of the patients (N = 54), sometimes in potentially toxic concentrations. These patients were aged between 17 and 59 years (median...

462 P&T® • August 2011 • Vol. 36 No. 8 one to five hours).1 • The half-life of methadone in an opioid-tolerant patient is approximately 24 hours; its half-life in an opioidnaive patient is approximately 55 hours. Therefore, the duration of effect is extended in opioid-naive patients.2 • Owing to methadone’s long half-life, full analgesic effects might not be attained until after three to five d...

BACKGROUND Bupropion is a new-generation monocyclic antidepressant that has been accidentally found to have potential effects on reducing nicotine addiction. It is structurally similar to stimulants such as amphetamine and inhibits dopamine and noradrenalin reuptake selectively. CASE REPORTS We report two cases with no history of epilepsy who took oral bupropion for depression and had general...