Resource Tag: ANALGESICS

The authors of this study evaluated the long term effect of UK legislation limiting the size of packs of analgesics sold over the counter, based on mortality data for September 1993 to September 2002. They found that suicidal deaths from paracetamol & salicylates were reduced by 22% in the year after the change in legislation, […]

For the 2 studies described here, please see SIEC #2004-0871 & #2004-0872

For related commentaries, please see SIEC #2004-0870 & #2004-0872

For related commentaries, please see SIEC #2004-0870 & #2004-0871

The purpose of this paper was to examine the incidence of suicides due to co-proxamol compared with tricyclic antidepressants & paracetamol, & to compare fatality rates for self poisonings with these drugs. A higher portion of suicides in the 10-24 year age group were due to co-proxamol than in other age groups. The odds of […]

Drug related deaths were examined for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, a metropolitan area that includes the city of Cleveland. From 1965-1980, 1095 overdose deaths were seen across a range of psychoactive substances. Suicidal overdoses (49.6%; N=505) were most frequent for persons who were older, white, female, and residents of areas outside the City of Cleveland. The […]

This study’s main objective was to identify patient characteristics, particularly psychiatric diagnosis associated with the use of over-the-counter medications in intentional overdose. Findings suggest that suicide-prone patients with a diagnosis of substance abuse & who possess prescription medications are unlikely to use over-the-counter medications in overdose. For this cohort, this represents a relatively small proportion […]

This article presents the recommendations of the American Food & Drug Administration’s non-prescription drugs advisory committee regarding the labeling & supply of paracetamol. The author suggests that the committee did not receive adequate information about the number of fatalities & liver damage paracetamol produces annually. The influence of the drug company Johnson & Johnson on […]

The authors investigate trends in substances used for self-poisoning & the influence of age, gender, suicidal intent, & repetition status on the substances used. Marked changes were found in the substances used for self-poisoning, which seem primarily to reflect availability, as do the influences of age & repeater status on choice of substances used. It […]

This article reviews the background, rationale & early impact of legislation that was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998 to modify pack sizes of analgesics sold over-the-counter following increasing concern about the mortality & morbidity associated with self-poisoning with analgesics, especially paracetamol. The author finds that the changes have had significant positive initial benefits […]

Determined the epidemiology of various types of acetaminophen poisoning & analyzed their outcome compared with their admission characteristics. Of the 93 patients studied, 80 were classified as suicidal & 13 had accidentally poisoned themselves in an attempt to relieve pain. There was a 2:1 female to male ratio. Patients admitted for accidental overdoses were at […]

This study analyzed data collected on patients presenting to the general hospital in Oxford. It investigated trends in deliberate self-harm in people under the age of 20 between 1985 & 1995. Results indicate a substantial increase in the number of teenagers admitted for self-harm during this period. The article reports that the majority of these […]

In this study, based on an extensive interview of 202 hospitalized parasuicides (69%) psychiatric inpatients, the authors found that women used antidepressants & anxiolytics more frequently for overdose (21%), than did men (8%). It is concluded that depressive syndromes frequently includes symptoms of anxiety & that such patients should be treated with antidepressants & not […]

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This study used a 1 page questionnaire among 1147 American & British adolescents. Although the majority of students recognized that sufficient quantities of paracetamol (an analgesic) could harm you, 58% of U.S. students and 41% of U.K. students overestimated the harmful dose. The authors suggest drug education programs in schools should address the dangers of […]

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This brief news item discusses the British government’s decision to restrict sales of paracetamol as a suicide prevention measure. At least 200 people die annually in the UK as a result of paracetamol poisoning; another 30,000 are admitted to hospital. Non-pharmacy outlets will only be allowed to sell 12 tablets & pharmacies will only be […]

Data from the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide were used to examine changes in the number of overdoses & the use of paracetamol in the 3 weeks before & after two broadcasts of a television drama showing a teenage girl’s overdose. An increase in paracetamol overdoses occurred following the first broadcast, but when data […]

In this report the authors have shown that there is a continual rise in the rate of attempted paracetamol overdose in Jerusalem. The present findings confirm the authors previous assumption that the problem of paracetamol poisoning is a minor public health hazard in Jerusalem. (10 refs.)

In this series of letters to the editor, the authors discuss possible ways to reduce the number of deaths due to paracetamol overdoses. These include: public education; including specific warnings of the effects of overdose on the drug packaging; & as has been done in France, limiting the amount of paracetamol in each package to […]

The issue of physician assisted suicide is discussed in terms of what type of patient seeks this solution and what type of phyusican would provide such services. The author then looks at the Committee of Bioethics affirmation of the importance of pain management within the context of PAS.

Originally published in German in 1976, this chapter examines the nature of pain with particular reference to cancer pain, pain control, & analgesics. Points reviewed are illustrated in a case history. The chapter notes that many examples used to support the debate for voluntary euthanasia derive from instances in which pain or other symptoms have […]