Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Forensic and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt,
2
Forensic and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
3
forensic and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
4
pharmacology department, kasr alainy, Cairo university, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: In recent years, patterns of the use of psychotropic drugs vary with increasing rates of psychiatric presentation and diagnosis in children and adolescents (Altay A et al., 2019). The psychotropic substances intoxications are an important problem both to forensic medicine and clinical toxicology. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess clinical patterns of psychotropic medications overdose in Egypt regarding different socio-demographic factors and the most common drug category used. Methodology: This study was conducted on 110 cases presented to National Environmental and Clinical Toxicology research Centre, Cairo university hospitals from April 2018 to September 2018. According to age, they were classified into 3 age groups; age group A (< 18 y), age group B (18-40 y) and age group C (> 40 y). Data were analyzed with respect to socio-demographic data, types of drugs and clinical presentations. Results: The most common age group was age group B (18-40 y) (55.5%). Females were more common than males (65.5% and 34.5% respectively). The most common manner of toxicity was suicidal (39.1%). Antipsychotics represented the highest percent of cases at 68.2%. The most common clinical manifestation was altered conscious level (91%) and the common ECG changes were sinus tachycardia (73.6%). Conclusion: The majority of cases were from age group A (18-40 years), female, single, from urban area, without work, presenting in the first 6 hours from drug intake. The most common manner of toxicity was suicidal due to social problems. The most common drug category was atypical antipsychotics, presenting with altered conscious level and sinus tachycardia.
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