A comprehensive review of MDMA and GHB: two common club drugs.

"Club drugs" have become alarmingly popular. The use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), in particular, has increased dramatically from 1997-1999. The pharmacokinetics of MDMA and GHB appear to be nonlinear, making it difficult to estimate a dose-response relationship. The drug MDMA is an amphetamine analog with sympathomimetic properties, whereas GHB is a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog with sedative properties. Symptoms of an MDMA toxic reaction include tachycardia, sweating, and hyperthermia. Occasional severe sequelae include disseminated intravascular coagulation, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure. Treatment includes lowering the body temperature and maintaining adequate hydration. Symptoms of GHB intoxication include coma, respiratory depression, unusual movements, confusion, amnesia, and vomiting. Treatment includes cardiac and respiratory support. Because of the popularity of these agents and their potentially dangerous effects, health care professionals must be familiar with these substances and the treatment options for patients who present with symptoms of a toxic reaction.

Treatment of affective disorder and obesity with topiramate.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of weight loss and mood stabilization in a patient being treated with the antiepileptic drug topiramate. CASE SUMMARY: A 37-year-old obese white woman with affective instability and obesity was being treated with adjunctive topiramate therapy. The patient lost 10 kg over 10 weeks of treatment with topiramate and improved clinically, as evidenced by a reduction in the number of times that she had to be admitted to a management unit for constant observation, and a decrease in the number of times that mechanical restraints or medication interventions were required for aggressive outbursts. Furthermore, the patient successfully completed two home visits while receiving topiramate therapy and was out of the hospital on her third home visit at the time of this writing. DISCUSSION: This case further strengthens previous reports that topiramate may be useful in treating affective disorders as well as inducing weight loss in a patient population in which weight gain is common. The patient discussed in this case report had no acute illnesses or changes in health status, no changes in diet, and no changes in her medications that could have accounted for the sudden weight loss. In addition, the patient's behavior did not improve until topiramate was added as adjunctive therapy of valproic acid, citalopram, and chlorpromazine during an adequate trial period. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled studies need to be performed to evaluate the use of topiramate in the psychiatric population and, in particular, the benefits of topiramate therapy in psychiatric patients with an additional diagnosis of obesity.

Chronic pure red cell aplasia caused by parvovirus B19 in AIDS: use of intravenous immunoglobulin--a report of eight patients.

The optimal management of chronic pure red cell aplasia caused by parvovirus B19 (B19-PRCA) in patients with AIDS is unclear. Our purpose was to determine the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in the treatment of B19-PRCA in patients with AIDS. The patients were eight adults with AIDS admitted during the period 1993-1997. A diagnosis of B19-PRCA was made if all the following criteria were met: 1. Bone marrow biopsy finding of pure red cell aplasia; 2. Detection of parvovirus B19 DNA in serum; and 3. No alternative explanation for PRCA. Initial (induction) therapy was with IVIg 1 g/kg daily for 1-2 days. Relapses were treated with IVIg 1 g/kg for 2 days. Maintenance therapy with IVIg 0.4-1.0 g/kg q 4 weeks was given to those patients who developed a second or subsequent relapse. The patients were followed for a mean of 27 months (range 8-38 months). All patients responded to initial therapy with IVIg. Six patients with CD4 counts < 80 cells/mm3 relapsed. The response was short lived in two patients with a CD4 count < 80 cells/mm3 who were given a single infusion of IVIg 1 g/kg as initial therapy. Four patients were given regular maintenance IVIg therapy following a second or subsequent relapse and remain in remission. Two patients whose CD4 counts were > 300 cells/mm3 remain in continuous unmaintained remission from B19-PRCA for over 8 and 11 months, respectively, following induction therapy with IVIg. AIDS patients with B19-PRCA respond well to therapy with IVIg 2 g/kg given over 2 days. Most patients with CD4 counts of < or = 80 cells/mm3 suffer relapse within six months necessitating retreatment with IVIg; maintenance therapy with IVIg 0.4 g/kg q 4 weeks is effective in preventing relapse of B19-PRCA, and may be cost effective. Routine maintenance therapy is probably not indicated in patients with CD4 counts over 300 cells/mm3. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.