Pharmaceuticals poisoning: Reported by the National Poison Centre in Malaysia between 2010 and 2015

Abstract

A BSTRACT Background and Purpose: The wide availability of medications has led to an increased exposure of humans to the possibility of poisoning. An unavoidable effect due to the availability of these medications has also led to a rising increment in the number of poisoning cases. All drugs, especially when administered in large doses or overextended periods, can initiate a toxic condition. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine nationwide, the patterns attributed to poisoning, and to describe the sociodemographic, and geographic distribution of poisoning, by identifying the category of substances implicated in these cases. Data Sources and Methods: A retrospective study based on telephone calls reported on poisoning caused by pharmaceutical products undertaken by the National Poisoning Centre (NPC) in Penang (Malaysia) was used as the basis of this study covering the period between 2010 and 2015. The study included the mode and type of poisoning, exposure routes as well as the incidence locations. Results: A total of 10,998 cases were examined, finding that females represented 5,899 cases (53.6%) being intoxicated more frequently compared to the number of males, 3,839 (34.9%). The age group of poisoning cases ranged between 20 and 29 years representing 2,579 (23.4%) of reported cases. The common mode of poisoning was attributed to suicide 5,203 (47.3%) from among the 10,998 cases and the highest poisoning agents reported were from the psychiatric group of pharmaceutical products of 2,287 (21%). Conclusion and Implications: These findings indicate a rising trend of suicidal poisoning attempts between 2013 and 2015, which emphasizes the need for more stringent and effective enforcement protocols to limit the rising incidence of poisoning. As such, analyzing the trends in poisoning in a particular zone periodically could help health policy-makers to develop management policies and prevention strategies.

Uncovering the Hidden Burden of Pharmaceutical Poisoning in High-Income and Low-Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

“…Studies were included if they fulfilled the following criteria: (1) the study reported on poisoning due to pharmaceuticals; (2) the published date was between 1 January 2011-31 December 2020; (3) full texts and abstracts were available in English; (4) the country where the study was conducted was stated; and (5) the article stated both the reason(s) (e.g., accidental or intentional) and outcome(s) (e.g., length of hospital stay, morbidity or mortality) of the poisoning. Studies were excluded from this review if: (1) they reported on poisoning due to toxins other than medicines (e.g., household products, pesticides etc.)…”

“…Toxic exposure to medicines remains a significant, under-recognised global public health concern. The World Drug Report estimates that pharmaceutical poisoning causes 190,000 fatalities annually [1]; with non-fatal poisoning 20-30 times more prevalent and often causing long-term morbidities [2]. The most prevalent long-term conditions are respiratory, renal or hepatic failure, cognitive impairment, and hypoxic brain injury, depending on the drug(s) involved [3].…”

“…Many of these patients are prescribed drugs to help manage their conditions, highlighting the magnitude of the population's vulnerability and exposure to medicines with potential toxicities. Over 60% of drug poisoning suicides in Asia are from people with psychiatric conditions, highlighting the correlation between mental illness and pharmaceutical poisoning [1,15,16]. Furthermore, overdosing with prescribed and over-the-counter medicines accounts for 79% of UK emergency department presentations due to self-harm [3,16,17].…”

Uncovering the Hidden Burden of Pharmaceutical Poisoning in High-Income and Low-Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

“…Toxic exposure to medicines remains a significant, under-recognised global public health concern. The World Drug Report estimates that 190,000 deaths yearly are linked to pharmaceutical poisoning [1]; with reports showing that non-fatal poisoning is 20-30 times more likely than fatal poisoning, often leaving patients with long-lasting morbidities [2]. These long-term conditions depend very much on the drug(s) the patient has been exposed to, the most common being respiratory, renal, or hepatic failure, cognitive impairment, and hypoxic brain injury [3].…”

“…Many of these patients are prescribed drugs to help manage their condition, highlighting the magnitude of the population's vulnerability and exposure to medicines with potential toxicity. In Asia specifically, over 60% of drug poisoning suicides are from people diagnosed with a psychiatric condition highlighting the correlation between poor mental health and pharmaceutical poisoning [1,15,16]. Furthermore, the act of overdosing with prescribed and over-the-counter medicines is estimated to be responsible for 79% of presentations to emergency departments due to self-harm in the UK [3,16,17].…”