Non-controlled and over-the-counter drugs of abuse
2.5 out of 5 stars
Abuse of Medications That Theoretically Are Without Abuse Potential. Reeves RR et al. South Med J 2015 Mar;108:151-157.
Abstract
This review of noncontrolled prescription and over-the-counter drugs that can be and have been abused for non-medical or recreational purposes is rather sketchy and anecdotal (as the authors admit,) but nevertheless contains some useful information.
Classes of drugs discussed include:
Cold & Cough products: pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, oxymetazoline, dextromethorphan
Anticholinergics: diphenhydramine, benztropine, trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
Antipsychotics: quetiapine,...
Source: The Poison Review - March 24, 2015 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical cough/cold preparations dextromethorphan medication abuse otc over-the-counter Source Type: news
Excellent review of lipid rescue therapy
3.5 out of 5 stars
Intravenous Lipid Emulsion in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review of Recent Literature. Cao D et al. J Emerg Med 2014 Dec 19 [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
This excellent comprehensive review of lipid rescue therapy (LRT) is vitiated only by the unavoidable fact that available clinical evidence is so inconclusive. As the authors point out, published literature consists mostly of case reports and small case series. The vast majority of these reported cases have good outcomes and reflect positive effects from ILE, but the evidence is marred by multiple confounding variables (such as concurren...
Source: The Poison Review - February 25, 2015 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical intralipid lipid emulsion lipid rescue therapy lipid sink Review Source Type: news
Gablofen (Baclofen Injection) - updated on RxList
(Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs)
Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs - February 23, 2015 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Baclofen-Naltrexone-Sorbitol for Charcot-Marie-Tooth DiseaseBaclofen-Naltrexone-Sorbitol for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Combining three familiar drugs that treat other conditions may help patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A disease (CMT1A), a new proof-of-concept study suggests. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - December 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
Intrathecal baclofen therapy in children with acquired brain injuries after drowning: A case series - Walter M, Altermatt S, Furrer C, Meyer-Heim A.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical efficacy as well as the incidence and extent of complications regarding intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy in children. METHODS: This is a retrospective medical chart review of three paediatric patients with acqui... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - October 5, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Age: Infants and Children Source Type: news
University of Minnesota-developed drug for rigid muscles moves ahead in clinical trials
(University of Minnesota Academic Health Center) A new formulation for a University of Minnesota-developed drug targeted at rare disorders is under development, with the potential to help a small number of Americans each year. The new formulation of the drug baclofen is designed to prevent serious complications that can occur when drug delivery is interrupted. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - September 24, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Emma Ross, 10, who suffered cardiac arrest wakes from 5 month coma
Emma Ross, 10, is the first child to be fitted with a £27,000 Baclofen pump at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, having been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - July 4, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Episode #4: Poisoning and the diagnosis of brain death
Conclusion: unclear how long to wait before pronouncing brain death as many factors such as pharmacogenetics can alter normal metabolism
Summary
Drug overdose can mimic brain death
Be especially cautious in overdose involving the scary B’s: baclofen, barbiturate, benzodiazepine
The 3-5 half life rule for drug clearance cannot be applied in the cases of overdose
Half lives are measured at therapeutic levels
Multiple other factors can alter metabolism in overdoses, such as pharmacogenetics, and cross reactivity with other ingestants
Consult a toxicologist if there is any question regarding possible overdose in the ...
Source: The Poison Review - May 20, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: LeonThe Poison Review Tags: Podcast Source Type: news
Toxicity from phenibut, a legal over-the-counter baclofen analogue
3 out of 5 stars
Phenibut, the appearance of another potentially dangerous product in the Univted States. O’Connell CW et al. Am J Med 2014 Apr 5 [Epub ahead of print]
Reference
This short case report describes a 25-year-old man who was brought to the emergency department after being found with decreased mental status and responsiveness.
On arrival at the hospital, his vital signs were stable and pulse oximetry 100% on room air. He was minimally responsive to painful stimuli. Neurological exam was non-focal and head CT unremarkable. A roommate reported that the patient had been taking 1.5 grams of “Phenibut...
Source: The Poison Review - April 22, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical baclofen GABA agonist legal high noofen phenibut sedative Source Type: news
Evaluation of the effects of anti-motion sickness drugs on subjective sleepiness and cognitive performance of healthy males - Weerts A, Pattyn N, Van de Heyning P, Wuyts F.
This study aimed to investigate the clinical and cognitive side effects of baclofen (10 mg), meclizine (50 mg), dimenhydrinate (40 mg) plus cinnarizine (20 mg) and promethazine (25 mg) plus d-amphetamine (5 mg). The study had a double-blind, placebo contro... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - December 21, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Alcohol and Other Drugs Source Type: news
Patient woke up just a docs about to remove her organs
My recent column in Emergency Medicine News, about the patient in a Syracuse, NY hospital who woke up in the operating room just before her organs were about to be harvested for donation, is now online. The read it, click here. (Source: The Poison Review)
Source: The Poison Review - October 31, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical baclofen brain death organ donation syracuse ny Source Type: news
Class I Medical Device Recall: Codman and Shurtleff MedStream Programmable Infusion Pump and Refill Kits - Drug Over Infusion
The MedStream Programmable Infusion Pump is an implanted drug delivery system used in the US for the chronic delivery of Baclofen to treat muscle symptoms and used in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) for the chronic delivery of Morphine or Baclofen. (Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew)
Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew - October 23, 2013 Category: Medical Equipment Source Type: news
Official report about overdose patient who awoke in OR just before surgeons harvested her organs
Several days ago TPR posted about a distressing case from Syracuse (NY), in which an overdose patient woke up in the operating room just as surgeons were about to harvest her organs. There were some details in the Syracuse Post-Standard story. An astute reader sent a comment pointing out that the report investigating this case — produced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — noted that the patient was on baclofen (in addition to Xanax and diphenhydramine.
Baclofen is notorious for producing prolonged coma and a clinical syndrome indistinguishable from brain death in overdose. Papers by Sullivan et ...
Source: The Poison Review - July 11, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Best of TPR Medical baclofen brain death organ donation Source Type: news
PR manager jumped to her death from bridge over the Thames after getting addicted to drug to help with alcoholism
Anna Sargent, 36, who worked in PR in London, had come across baclofen online when she was trying to find a way to get over her addiction to alcohol. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - July 9, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Hospital fined after overdose patient awakes just before surgeons harvest her organs
The Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard reports that St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center has been fined $22,000 for a 2009 incident in which a patient declared brain dead and cleared for organ donation woke up in the operating room just before the harvesting procedure was to begin.
According to the report, the 41-year-old patient was brought to the emergency department comatose. Although staff at the hospital thought she had suffered a cardiac catastrophe, she was actually suffering from effects of an intentional overdose of drugs including Xanax, diphenhydramine, and a muscle relaxant. It is not clear from the newspaper r...
Source: The Poison Review - July 8, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical drug overdose organ donation Source Type: news
