Poisoning with psychotropic drugs

Psychotropic drug poisoning remains a major cause of morbidity worldwide. This study investigated retrospectively its pattern in Saudi Arabia. Case files all patients admitted with drug intoxication were reviewed. Psychotropic drugs accounted for 22% of all documented cases [1430] and 76% of the 412 acute poisoning cases associated with CNS depression. The rank order of psychotropic agents used were: anxiolytics 154[49%] antidepressants 104[33%], antipsychotics 57[18%] and mixed intoxication in 72[23%] patients. Other drugs used concomitantly with psychotropics were: alcohol in 30 antiepileptics in 24 and antitussives in 20 cases respectively. Mixed intoxication led to 10 deaths and 8 with permanent neurological dysfunction. The type of poisoning was accidental in 86% of those aged under 13 years and all those over 40 years of age but deliberate in 83% of the 21-30 years age group. Poisoning with anxiolytics was 57% accidental and 43% deliberate in contrast to 27% accidental and 73% deliberate with antidepressants. Of all those with deliberate poisoning 68% were on psychotropic agents. It is recommended that physicians should reassess their psychotherapeutic methodology and be familiar with the treatment approaches of the intoxication by these agents

efficacy of different dosage regimens of pentavalent antimony on cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice

The efficacy of different dosage regimens of sodium stibogluconate [SSG], a pentavalent antimony [sb] agent in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] in male Balb/c mice was investigated. Mice with CL were divided into four groups. Mice in group 1, were injected intramuscularly with saline [control] and those in groups 2, 3 and 4 were injected with a total daily dose of 300 mg Sb/kg :300 once 150 twice and 100 thrice mg sb/kg respectively daily for 10 days. None of the mice in groups 1 or 4 was cured, however the cure rates in groups 2 and 3 were 50% and 33%, respectively. Lesion size was reduced by 89% in group 2 as compared to 56% and 16% in groups 3 and 4 respectively. Peak plasma antimony level [C[max]]was determined in another 3 groups of mice that were given 300, 150 and 100 mg sb/kg. The C[max] were: 34.3, 15.9 and 8.4 micro g /ml in groups 1.2 and 3 respectively. Those of groups 1 and 2 but not 3 were within the in vitro ED50 range [12-20 mg/1] of SSG. In conclusion, higher cure and healing rates as well as a more effective antimony plasma level are obtained when the total daily requirements of SSG is given as a single dose. This regimen should, thus be used instead of divided doses when treating CL

Pattern of drug consumption in pregnant Saudi women

The extent of drug consumption was studied by presenting a questionnaire to 450 pregnant women in the maternity units of three general hospitals in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The study revealed that 61% [275] of the sample interviewed had used drugs during their pregnancy. A range of 1 -7 drug preparations per patient was noted. In 11% [30] of the women the drugs were self- medications. A majority of women had consumed multivitamins [230] and folic acid/iron-containing [186] preparations. Non-narcotic analgesics and antiemetics were used by 30% and 21% respectively- Antimicrobials were taken by 20 [7%] and tocolytics by 14 [5%]. Other drugs such as antihypertensives, insulin, antacids, antitussives, bronchodilators, and antiepileptics were used by 91 [33%] women. It was noted that pregnant women aged under 20 years, or over 40 years used drugs more than those aged between 20 and 39 years. The results also showed that 6% of women interviewed had consumed some types of traditional remedies during their pregnancy. It is recommended that health authorities should provide guidelines for physicians on the prescription of drugs for pregnant women and also educate the public on the dangers of using drugs during pregnancy