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Prevalence of over‐the‐counter drug‐related overdoses at Accident and Emergency departments in Northern Ireland – a retrospective evaluation
Author(s) -
Wazaify M.,
Kennedy S.,
Hughes C. M.,
McElnay J. C.
Publication year - 2005
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.1365-2710.2004.00607.x
Subject(s) - medicine , accidental , over the counter , drug overdose , retrospective cohort study , emergency medicine , drug , injury prevention , medical emergency , poison control , occupational safety and health , medical prescription , psychiatry , pharmacology , physics , acoustics , pathology
Summary Background and objectives: One major concern associated with misuse/abuse of over‐the‐counter (OTC) products is the potential for over‐dosage. The aim of this research study was to evaluate, over a 3‐month period, OTC medicine‐related overdoses (those involving OTC drugs only and OTC drugs in combination with other drugs) that led to patients presenting at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) departments in four Belfast hospitals. Methods: A data collection sheet was designed to capture the information required from the A & E records in each hospital. A retrospective week‐by‐week data collection, reviewing A & E records, took place over a 3‐month period (starting on 1 December 2002). All data related to cases presenting at the A & E departments because of drug overdoses (either accidental or deliberate according to Read Clinical Classification) were included in the study. Data were coded and entered into a custom designed SPSS © database for analysis, using Chi square and Fisher exact tests. Results: OTC drug‐related overdoses comprised 40·1% of all overdoses, of which 24·0% were OTC‐only overdoses. Those who overdosed on OTC drugs (solely or combined with other drugs) were mainly female (62·3%) and in the age category 31–50 years (44·9%; P < 0·05). The majority ( n = 215) of OTC‐related overdoses were intentional, whereas only 28 were accidental. Of those who attended the A & E departments and had an overdose history, one‐third overdosed on OTC‐related products and two‐thirds overdosed on OTC drugs only. Conclusions: OTC drugs accounted for a significant proportion of overdose presentations at the A & E departments in Northern Ireland. Higher awareness of the potential of OTC product use in overdose cases (intentional or accidental) is recommended for both the public and health care professionals.