Co-Proxamol Withdrawal has Reduced Suicide From Drugs in Scotland

This study examined what effect the withdrawal of co-proxamol from the United Kingdom market had on mortality from poisoning in Scotland. A retrospective, observational study of mortality due to poisoning by single agents was done for the period 2000-2006. A significant reduction in the proportion of poisoning deaths due to co-proxamol was observed following legislation. The most significant reduction was seen in male out-of-hospital deaths. This was associatd with a decline in prescriptions by 60% within 6 months of legislation. No compensatory rise in mortality from poisonings with other common analgesics was observed. (8 refs.)