Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Mar 2014
Pediatric ergot alkaloid exposures reported to the California Poison Control System: 1997-2008.
The risk of toxicity from exposure to ergot alkaloid-containing medications in children is uncertain. Due to the alarming historical experience with severe toxicity and the syndrome of ergotism from natural and synthetic ergot alkaloids, triage recommendations for pediatric exposures to medicinal agents containing ergot alkaloids may be inappropriate and inconsistent. ⋯ Pediatric ergot exposures were associated with few transient adverse effects but multiple hospitalizations. Rare cases of significant toxicity associated with methylergonovine exposures were found. Current poison control send-in protocols and emergency department (ED) guidelines should consider home management and short ED stays as opposed to lengthy critical care bed admissions.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Mar 2014
Serious adverse effects from single-use detergent sacs: report from a U.S. statewide poison control system.
In recent years, serious adverse effects to children from exposure to single-use detergents sacs (SUDS) have been recognized. While most exposures result in minor symptoms, there have been serious outcomes. This study aims to classify which types of serious outcomes follow SUDS exposures, and to assess, if possible, differences in toxicity between various SUDS products. ⋯ Serious complications from exposure to SUDS occur in a small number of exposures for unclear reasons. Respiratory and CNS effects are associated with more severe outcomes. Some brand-name products are associated with a relatively higher risk of severe adverse effects and rates of admission.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Mar 2014
Toxicity and clinical outcomes of paliperidone exposures reported to U.S. Poison Centers.
Paliperidone is an atypical antipsychotic that was approved in the U.S. in 2006, and is also available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. Information regarding paliperidone overdoses is limited to case reports. Serious toxicity has yet to be reported. ⋯ The majority of patients experienced no or minor toxicity and were not admitted for medical care. Although a higher dose was associated with a more serious outcome in children less than 6 years, the data do not provide clear-cut triage guidelines.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Mar 2014
Patterns of presentation and clinical toxicity after reported use of alpha methyltryptamine in the United Kingdom. A report from the UK National Poisons Information Service.
To characterise the patterns of presentation, clinical effects and possible harms of acute toxicity following recreational use of alpha methyltryptamine (AMT) in the United Kingdom, as reported by health professionals to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) and to compare clinical effects with those reported after mephedrone use. ⋯ Although still infrequent, toxicity following reported exposure to AMT has been encountered in the United Kingdom since January 2011. Stimulant features, acute mental health disturbances and seizures are more frequently reported than in those presenting following reported use of mephedrone.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Mar 2014
Trend analysis of anonymised pooled urine from portable street urinals in central London identifies variation in the use of novel psychoactive substances.
There is increasing interest in the analysis of waste water at sewage treatment plants to monitor recreational drug use. This technique is limited for novel psychoactive substances (NPS) due to limited knowledge on their human and bacterial metabolism and stability in waste water. Small studies have reported the detection of NPS using pooled anonymous urine samples, which eliminates some of these potential confounders. ⋯ This study demonstrates that analysis of anonymous pooled urine samples from stand-alone urinals can be used to detect and monitor trends in the use of classical recreational drugs and NPS in a large city centre over time. This technique has the potential to be a novel key indicator alongside other existing indicators to provide a more robust picture of the use of recreational drugs including NPS.