Ipecac syrup abuse, morbidity, and mortality: isn't it time to repeal its over-the-counter status?

Assessment and management of cardiovascular complications in eating disorders

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious conditions predominantly affecting adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and pose a considerable threat to their health and wellbeing. Much of this increased morbidity and mortality is linked to medical compromise, especially cardiovascular abnormalities. Rates of presentation to both community and inpatient medical settings have increased in all age groups following the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent "lockdowns", with patients presentations being more medically compromised compared to previous years. This has implications for clinicians with regard to the performance of competent cardiovascular assessments and management of findings.

AIMS

This paper is a practical resource for clinicians working with AYAs in whom EDs may present. It will provide a brief summary of the physiological context in which cardiovascular complications develop, systematically outline these complications and suggest a pragmatic approach to their clinical evaluation.

METHODS

Relevant literature, guidelines and academic texts were critically reviewed. Conclusions were extracted and verified by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Adolescent Paediatrician, with suitable expertise in this clinical cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The cardiovascular complications in EDs are primarily linked to malnutrition, and patients presenting with Anorexia Nervosa are most often at greatest risk of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities, including aberrations of heart rate and rhythm, haemodynamic changes and peripheral vascular abnormalities. Other cardiovascular abnormalities are secondary to electrolyte imbalances, as seen in patients with Bulimia Nervosa. More recently defined EDs including Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Binge Eating Disorder are also likely associated with distinct cardiovascular complications though further research is required to clarify their nature and severity. Most cardiovascular abnormalities are fully reversible with nutritional restoration, and normalisation of eating behaviours, including the cessation of purging, though rare cases are linked to cardiac deaths. A detailed clinical enquiry accompanied by a thorough physical examination is imperative to ensure the medical safety of AYAs with EDs, and should be supported by an electrocardiogram and laboratory investigations. Consideration of cardiovascular issues, along with effective collaboration with acute medical teams allows community clinicians identify those at highest risk and minimise adverse outcomes in this cohort.

Emetine Is Not Ipecac: Considerations for Its Use as Treatment for SARS-CoV2

Emetine is a potent antiviral that acts on many viruses in the low-nM range, with several studies in animals and humans demonstrating antiviral activity. Historically, emetine was used to treat patients with Spanish influenza, in the last stages of the pandemic in the early 1900s. Some of these patients were "black" with cyanosis. Emetine rapidly reversed the cyanosis and other symptoms of this disease in 12-24 h. However, emetine also has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and it appears it is these anti-inflammatory properties that were responsible for the effects seen in patients with Spanish influenza. Emetine, in the past, has also been used in 10s to 100s of millions of people at a dose of ~60 mg daily to treat amoebiasis. Based on viral inhibition data we can calculate a likely SARS-CoV2 antiviral dose of ~1/10th the amoebiasis dose, which should dramatically reduce the risk of any side effects. While there are no anti-inflammatory dose response data available, based on the potential mode of action, the anti-inflammatory actions may also occur at low doses. This paper also examines the toxicity of emetine seen in clinical practice and that seen in the laboratory, and discusses the methods of administration aimed at reducing side effects if higher doses were found to be necessary. While emetine is a "pure drug" as it is extracted from ipecac, some of the differences between emetine and ipecac are also discussed.

Cardiac changes in anorexia nervosa

Introduction Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, which is associated with many different medical complications as a result of the weight loss and malnutrition that characterise this illness. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. A large portion of deaths are attributable to the cardiac abnormalities that ensue as a result of the malnutrition associated with anorexia nervosa. In this review, the cardiac complications of anorexia nervosa will be discussed.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review on cardiac changes in anorexia nervosa was carried out.

RESULTS

There are structural, functional, and rhythm-type changes that occur in patients with anorexia nervosa. These become progressively significant as ongoing weight loss occurs.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac changes are inherent to anorexia nervosa and they become more life-threatening and serious as the anorexia nervosa becomes increasingly severe. Weight restoration and attention to these cardiac changes are crucial for a successful treatment outcome.

Medical complications of bulimia nervosa and their treatments

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to thoroughly review the medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa and their evidenced-based or typical treatments.

METHODS

A thorough review of medical literature to cull pertinent and best articles which guide the diagnosis and treatment of the medical complications of bulimia nervosa was performed.

RESULTS

There are many different medical complications of bulimia nervosa which are caused by the mode and frequency of purging. Some are fluid and electrolyte alterations from the utilized mode of purging and some are due to the local damaging effects of purging behaviors on those body sites.

CONCLUSION

Bulimia nervosa is a serious mental health disorder which has many medical complications associated with it. Most are reversible with treatment.

The medical complications associated with purging

OBJECTIVE

Purging behaviors, including self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, and diuretic abuse, are present across many of the eating disorders. Here we review the major medical complications of these behaviors.

METHOD

Although we identified over 100 scholarly articles describing medical complications associated with purging, most papers involved case studies or small, uncontrolled samples. Given the limited evidence base, we conducted a qualitative (rather than systematic) review to identify medical complications that have been attributed to purging behaviors.

RESULTS

Medical conditions affecting the teeth, esophagus, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, skin, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal system were identified, with self-induced vomiting causing the most medical complications.

DISCUSSION

Purging behavior can be associated with severe medical complications across all body systems. Mental health professionals should refer patients with purging behaviors to medical providers for screening and treatment as needed. The medical work-up for individuals with eating disorders should include a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, and a full body exam including the teeth to prevent severe complications. Medical providers should screen patients for purging behaviors and associated medical complications, even in the absence of an eating disorder diagnosis, to increase the detection of eating disorders. Recognizing the link between purging and medical complications can aid in identifying potential eating disorders, particularly those that often elude detection such as purging disorder.

Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are serious psychiatric illnesses related to disordered eating and distorted body images. They both have significant medical complications associated with the weight loss and malnutrition of anorexia nervosa, as well as from the purging behaviors that characterize bulimia nervosa. No body system is spared from the adverse sequelae of these illnesses, especially as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa become more severe and chronic. We review the medical complications that are associated with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as the treatment for the complications. We also discuss the epidemiology and psychiatric comorbidities of these eating disorders.

The current status of suicide and self-injury in eating disorders: a narrative review

The aim of this paper is to review recent literature on suicide and self-injury in eating disorders (ED) including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Among psychiatric diagnoses, EDs are associated with increased mortality rates, even when specialized treatment is available. Of the mortalities that are reported in individuals with EDs, suicide is among the most commonly reported causes of death. Additionally, suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors occur frequently in this clinical population. A literature search was undertaken using the databases of Medline/PubMed and PsycInfo to identify papers describing suicidality in individuals with ED diagnoses. The authors identified studies and review articles published between 2005-2013 (inclusive) that describe the relationship between EDs and suicide, and associated behaviors including self-injurious behaviors, or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The initial search resulted in 1095 papers that met the a priori search criteria. After careful review, 66 papers were included. The majority of papers described clinical cohorts that were studied longitudinally. The diagnosis described most frequently in selected studies was AN. There are limited current data about the prevalence of suicide and NSSI among individuals with EDs. Among the published studies that focus specifically on the relationship between EDs and suicidality, most describe AN in more detail than other EDs. Nonetheless, rates of mortality, and specifically rates of suicide, are undeniably high in ED populations, as are the rates of self-harm. Therefore, it is critical for clinicians and caretakers to carefully evaluate these patients for suicide risk and to refer promptly for appropriate treatment.

Over-the-counter and out-of-control: legal strategies to protect youths from abusing products for weight control

Abuse of widely available, over-the-counter drugs and supplements such as laxatives and diet pills for weight control by youths is well documented in the epidemiological literature. Many such products are not medically recommended for healthy weight control or are especially susceptible to abuse, and their misuse can result in serious health consequences. We analyzed the government's role in regulating these products to protect public health. We examined federal and state regulatory authority, and referred to international examples to inform our analysis. Several legal interventions are indicated to protect youths, including increased warnings and restrictions on access through behind-the-counter placement or age verification. We suggest future directions for governments internationally to address this pervasive public health problem.

Sudden death in eating disorders

Eating disorders are usually associated with an increased risk of premature death with a wide range of rates and causes of mortality. “Sudden death” has been defined as the abrupt and unexpected occurrence of fatality for which no satisfactory explanation of the cause can be ascertained. In many cases of sudden death, autopsies do not clarify the main cause. Cardiovascular complications are usually involved in these deaths. The purpose of this review was to report an update of the existing literature data on the main findings with respect to sudden death in eating disorders by means of a search conducted in PubMed. The most relevant conclusion of this review seems to be that the main causes of sudden death in eating disorders are those related to cardiovascular complications. The predictive value of the increased QT interval dispersion as a marker of sudden acute ventricular arrhythmia and death has been demonstrated. Eating disorder patients with severe cardiovascular symptoms should be hospitalized. In general, with respect to sudden death in eating disorders, some findings (eg, long-term eating disorders, chronic hypokalemia, chronically low plasma albumin, and QT intervals >600 milliseconds) must be taken into account, and it must be highlighted that during refeeding, the adverse effects of hypophosphatemia include cardiac failure. Monitoring vital signs and performing electrocardiograms and serial measurements of plasma potassium are relevant during the treatment of eating disorder patients.

Self-medication with nutritional supplements and herbal over-thecounter products

In recent years, the popularity increased for nutritional supplements and herbal products. Prescription drugs, but not herbal therapies are paid by health insurances. They are sold over-the-counter (OTC) on the patients’ own expense. However, there are potential risks of self-medication, e.g. incorrect self-diagnosis, severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, risk of addiction etc. They are often used by patients at their own discretion without knowledge of and control by their physicians. Certain users are at risk of intoxication. Multiple medications taken by older patients increase the risk for adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, and compliance problems for this age group (polypharmacy). Herbals should be discontinued prior to operations to avoid interactions with anesthetics or anticoagulants. Herbal preparations may also be carcinogenic or interfere with cancer treatments. Pregnant women use various OTC preparations. However, in many cases, it is unclear whether their use is safe for mother or baby. Self-medication with herbals is also largely distributed among anxious and depressive patients, and patients with other conditions and symptoms. The popularity of herbal products has also brought concerns on quality, efficacy and safety. Cases of botanical misidentification, contaminations with heavy metals, pesticides, radioactivity, organic solvents, microbials as well as adulteration with chemical drugs necessitate the establishment of international quality control standards. Hepatotoxic effects have been reported for more than 300 plant species, and some commonly used herbs have been demonstrated to interact with Western medication. Health care professionals have a critical responsibility assessing the self-care ability of their patients. Databases are available for pharmacists with information on action, side effects and toxicities as well as herb-drug interactions. There is a need for established guidelines regarding the correct use of nutritional supplements and herbal OTC preparations (phytovigilance). Physicians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals have to counsel patients and the general public on the benefits and risks associated with herbal drugs. Information centers for consumers and general practitioners are needed, and convincing evidence on safety and efficacy of herbal products has to be demonstrated in placebo-controlled, double blind and randomized clinical trials.

A latent profile analysis of the typology of bulimic symptoms in an indigenous Pacific population: evidence of cross-cultural variation in phenomenology

BACKGROUND

Previous efforts to derive empirically based eating disorder (ED) typologies through latent structure modeling have been limited by the ethnic and cultural homogeneity of their study populations and their reliance on DSM-IV ED signs and symptoms as indicator variables.

METHOD

Ethnic Fijian schoolgirls (n=523) responded to a self-report battery assessing ED symptoms, herbal purgative use, co-morbid psychopathology, clinical impairment, cultural orientation, and peer influences. Participants who endorsed self-induced vomiting or herbal purgative use in the past 28 days (n=222) were included in a latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify unique subgroups of bulimic symptomatology.

RESULTS

LPA identified a bulimia nervosa (BN)-like class (n=86) characterized by high rates of binge eating and self-induced vomiting, and a herbal purgative class (n=136) characterized primarily by the use of indigenous Fijian herbal purgatives. Both ED classes endorsed greater eating pathology and general psychopathology than non-purging participants, and the herbal purgative class endorsed greater clinical impairment than either the BN-like or non-purging participants. Cultural orientation did not differ between the two ED classes.

CONCLUSIONS

Including study populations typically under-represented in mental health research and broadening the scope of relevant signs and symptoms in latent structure models may increase the generalizability of ED nosological schemes to encompass greater cultural diversity.

Acetazolamide prevents vacuolar myopathy in skeletal muscle of K(+) -depleted rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Acetazolamide and dichlorphenamide are carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors effective in the clinical condition of hypokalemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP). Whether these drugs prevent vacuolar myopathy, which is a pathogenic factor in hypoPP, is unknown. The effects of these drugs on the efflux of lactate from skeletal muscle were also investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

For 10 days, K(+)-depleted rats, a model of hypoPP, were administered 5.6 mg kg(-1) day(-1) of acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide or bendroflumethiazide (the last is not an inhibitor of CA). Histological analysis of vacuolar myopathy and in vitro lactate efflux measurements were performed in skeletal muscles from treated and untreated K(+)-depleted rats, and also from normokalemic rats.

KEY RESULTS

About three times as many vacuoles were found in the type II fibres of tibialis anterioris muscle sections from K(+)-depleted rats as were found in the same muscle from normokalemic rats. In ex vivo experiments, a higher efflux of lactate on in vitro incubation was found in muscles of K(+)-depleted rats compared with that found in muscles from normokalemic rats. After treatment of K(+)-depleted rats with acetazolamide, the numbers of vacuoles in tibialis anterioris muscle decreased to near normal values. Incubation with acetazolamide in vitro inhibited efflux of lactate from muscles of K(+)-depleted rats. In contrast, bendroflumethiazide and dichlorphenamide failed to prevent vacuolar myopathy after treatment in vivo and failed to inhibit lactate efflux in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Acetazolamide prevents vacuolar myopathy in K(+)-depleted rats. This effect was associated with inhibition of lactate transport, rather than inhibition of CA.

Pediatric Toxicology

Pediatric patients present unique concerns in the field of medical toxicology. First, there are medicines that are potentially dangerous to small children, even when they are exposed to very small amounts. Clinicians should be wary of these drugs even when young patients present with accidental ingestions of apparently insignificant amounts. Next, over-the-counter laxatives and syrup of ipecac, although not commonly considered abused substances, may be misused in both the setting of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy and in adolescents who have eating disorders. Their use should be considered in any gastrointestinal illness of uncertain origin. Finally, as the use of syrup of ipecac at home now has been discouraged by many, some have explored using activated charcoal at home as a new method of prehospital gastrointestinal decontamination. The literature examining activated charcoal and its use in this capacity is discussed.

Is syrup of ipecac still for sale? Comparison of pharmacies in a large urban area--2003 versus 2005

There has been considerable publicity about the lack of benefit and potential dangers of syrup of ipecac. In November 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended against its use. Pharmacies in Houston, Texas were surveyed by telephone before (survey 1) and after (survey 2) the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation to determine whether ipecac availability changed. There were 126 pharmacies interviewed at survey 1, and 128 interviewed at survey 2. Pharmacies in survey 1 were more likely than those in survey 2 to sell ipecac (79% versus 64%, P < .01) and to have it in stock (75% versus 48%, P < .001). Pharmacies mostly stored ipecac on the shelves (67%, survey 1; 59%, survey 2, P = .27). Although syrup of ipecac availability has declined significantly, it is still available in more than 50% of pharmacies. Health care providers should advise against its use and advocate that pharmacies remove it.