Intravenous self-administration of benzydamine, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a central cannabinoidergic mechanism of action.

Benzydamine (BZY) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for the topical treatment of inflammations of the oral and vaginal mucosae. Virtually nothing is known about the central pharmacological actions of BZY. Yet there are reports of voluntary systemic overdosage of BZY in drug addicts, resulting in a euphoric, hallucinatory state. In the present study, we investigated the reinforcing properties of BZY in a rat self-administration paradigm. We found that BZY has a powerful reinforcing effect and that this effect is greatly facilitated in animals that already had substance experience, having previously self-administered heroin and cocaine, indicating cross sensitization between BZY and other common drugs of abuse. We then assessed the effect of BZY on prelimbic cortex-to-nucleus accumbens glutamatergic transmission, using field recordings in rat parasagittal brain slices. BZY dose-dependently reduced both field excitatory post synaptic potential amplitude and paired pulse ratio, suggesting a presynaptic mechanism of action. Similarly to the in vivo paradigm, also the electrophysiological effects of BZY were potentiated in slices from animals that had undergone cocaine and heroin self-administration. Furthermore, BZY-induced Long Term Depression (LTD)-like responses in the prelimbic cortex-to-nucleus accumbens circuitry were significantly reduced in the presence of the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. These findings provide firm evidence of the abuse liability of BZY and suggest a possible cannabinoidergic mechanism of action. Further research is needed in order to give insights into the molecular mechanism underlying BZY psychoactive and reinforcing effects, to better understand its abuse potential.

Management of body stuffers presenting to the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish a management protocol for body stuffers presenting to the emergency department. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational case series of patients presenting to the emergency department of a large inner-city hospital as 'body stuffers' during the period between 1 January 2006 and 31 October 2011, irrespective of the type of drug ingested. We reviewed demographic data, ingestion characteristics, clinical progress and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 31±8.10 years (range 15-58 years), among whom 106 were male (84%). Drugs ingested were as follows: heroin (n=61, 48%), cocaine (n=58, 46%), other drugs (n=20, 16%) and unknown (n=10, 8%). Of the patients, 23 (18%) ingested more than one drug. At presentation, 96 had features of drug toxicity. The presence of depressant drug toxidrome was more commonly observed among heroin users, but stimulant drug toxidromes were seen across all groups. Of the patients, 12 developed changes in clinical state, with a mean time to development of symptoms of 2 h 50 min±1 h 39 min (range from 1 h 0 min to 5 h 36 min). Abdominal radiography showed the presence of foreign bodies in 8% of the tests performed, and packets were recovered from one patient who underwent gut decontamination. CONCLUSION: Patients developed new or worsening features of drug toxicity within 6 h of presentation. Toxidromes observed are often not drug/class specific, and treatment including gut decontamination and radiography do not aid in expediting discharge. We propose an observation period of 6 h from the time of admission as the time required if the patient is asymptomatic or there is resolution of presenting signs and symptoms.