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THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DEXTROPROPOXYPHENE (DISTALGESIC) OVERDOSE FATALITIES IN BIRMINGHAM AND THE WEST MIDLANDS
Author(s) -
Whittington R. M.,
Barclay A. D.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1981.tb01001.x
Subject(s) - propoxyphene , coroner , medicine , epidemiology , drug overdose , emergency medicine , medical emergency , anesthesia , poison control , injury prevention , analgesic
SUMMARY An assessment was made of all deaths during 4 years attributed to Distalgesic (paracetamol 325 mg and dextropropoxyphene 32.5 mg), reported either to the Birmingham. Coroner (thirty‐five), or from elsewhere in the West Midlands (ninety‐seven), when analysis was done by the West Midlands Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory. In this region Distalgesic has become the foremost cause of death by drug overdose. About fifteen tablets may be fatal. Potentiation by alcohol is confirmed. The danger of rapid death, before treatment is available, following impulsive overdose by young people, who seem to be particularly at risk, is emphasized.