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Table 4 Clinical state of patients presenting with acute poisoning related to recreational drug use

From: Acute poisoning related to the recreational use of prescription drugs: an observational study from Oslo, Norway

 

Benzodiazepines

n (%)

Z-drugs

n (%)

Methadone

n (%)

Buprenorphine

n (%)

Opioids class Aa

n (%)

Opioids class Bb

n (%)

Methylphenidate

n (%)

Pregabalin

n (%)

Quetiapine

n (%)

Others

n (%)

All casesc

n (%)

Bradypnoea

 (RR < 10)d

79 (11.4)

2 (7.7)

5 (8.3)

3 (5.7)

5 (14.3)

–

–

–

–

–

84 (10.3)

Tachycardia

 (HR > 99)d

155 (22.3)

4 (15.4)

10 (16.7)

11 (20.8)

10 (28.6)

6 (27.3)

6 (54.5)

1 (16.7)

2 (33.3)

3 (50.0)

185 (22.6)

Bradycardia

 (HR < 50)d

13 (1.9)

–

–

1 (1.9)

–

–

–

–

–

–

13 (1.6)

Hypertension

 (SBP ≥ 180)

3 (0.4)

–

1 (1.7)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3 (0.4)

Hypotension

 (SBP ≤ 90)

29 (4.2)

–

3 (5.0)

4 (7.5)

3 (8.6)

–

–

–

1 (16.7)

–

36 (4.4)

Hyperthermia

 (tp ≥ 39.0)

4 (0.6)

–

1 (1.7)

–

–

–

–

–

–

1 (16.7)

5 (0.6)

GCS scored,e

 15

231 (33.2)

16 (61.5)

13 (21.7)

14 (26.4)

13 (37.1)

17 (77.3)

6 (66.7)

3 (50.0)

6 (100)

5 (83.3)

283 (34.6)

 8–14

444 (63.8)

10 (38.5)

43 (71.7)

39 (73.6)

21 (60.0)

4 (18.2)

3 (33.3)

2 (33.3)

–

1 (16.7)

509 (62.1)

 3–7

20 (2.9)

–

4 (6.7)

–

1 (2.9)

1 (4.5)

–

1 (16.7)

–

–

24 (2.9)

Vomiting

12 (1.7)

1 (3.8)

5 (8.3)

3 (5.7)

1 (2.9)

2 (9.1)

1 (9.1)

–

–

1 (16.7)

22 (2.7)

Headache

15 (2.2)

2 (7.7)

1 (1.7)

2 (3.8)

1 (2.9)

1 (4.5)

–

1 (16.7)

–

1 (16.7)

19 (2.3)

Anxiety

17 (2.4)

1 (3.8)

1 (1.7)

3 (5.7)

1 (2.9)

2 (9.1)

2 (18.2)

–

1 (16.7)

2 (33.3)

26 (3.2)

Hallucinations

8 (1.1)

2 (7.7)

2 (3.3)

3 (5.7)

2 (5.7)

–

2 (18.2)

–

–

–

16 (2.0)

Agitation

77 (11.1)

1 (3.8)

10 (16.7)

9 (17.0)

6 (17.1)

–

5 (45.5)

–

–

1 (16.7)

95 (11.6)

Psychosis

12 (1.7)

2 (7.7)

2 (3.3)

1 (1.9)

3 (8.6)

1 (4.5)

4 (36.4)

–

–

–

21 (2.6)

Seizures

4 (0.6)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4 (0.5)

Palpitations

1 (0.1)

–

–

–

–

1 (4.5)

1 (9.1)

–

3 (50.0)

2 (33.3)

7 (0.9)

Chest pain

11 (1.6)

–

–

–

2 (5.7)

1 (4.5)

–

–

1 (16.7)

–

14 (1.7)

Arrhythmias

2 (0.3)

1 (3.8)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3 (0.4)

Total

696 (100)

26 (100)

60 (100)

53 (100)

35 (100)

22 (100)

11 (100)

6 (100)

6 (100)

6 (100)

819 (100)

  1. GCS Glasgow Coma Scale; HR heart rate per minute; RR respiratory rate per minute; SBP systolic blood pressure in mmHg; tp temperature in °Celsius
  2. aClass A is the strictest regimen of prescription by Norwegian regulations
  3. bPrescription of class B drugs is less strictly regulated than class A, but more than ordinary prescription drugs (class C)
  4. cAs many patients had taken more than one drug, the numbers for the separate prescription drug categories may add up to more than the total number of cases
  5. dOn presentation
  6. eMissing data in 3 cases
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BMC Emergency Medicine

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