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Syed O, Jancic P, Fink AB, Knezevic NN. Drug Safety and Suicidality Risk of Chronic Pain Medications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1497. [PMID: 37895968 PMCID: PMC10609967 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is one of the main leading causes of disability in the world at present. A variety in the symptomatology, intensity and duration of this phenomenon has led to an ever-increasing demand of pharmacological treatment and relief. This demand for medication, ranging from well-known groups, such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines, to more novel drugs, was followed by a rise in safety concerns of such treatment options. The validity, frequency, and diversity of such concerns are discussed in this paper, as well as their possible effect on future prescription practices. A specific caution is provided towards the psychological safety and toll of these medications, regarding suicidality and suicidal ideation. Most significantly, this paper highlights the importance of pharmacovigilance and underscores the necessity of surveillance programs when considering chronic pain medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osman Syed
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Chicago, IL 60657, USA; (O.S.); (P.J.); (A.B.F.)
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
| | - Predrag Jancic
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Chicago, IL 60657, USA; (O.S.); (P.J.); (A.B.F.)
| | - Adam B. Fink
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Chicago, IL 60657, USA; (O.S.); (P.J.); (A.B.F.)
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
| | - Nebojsa Nick Knezevic
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Chicago, IL 60657, USA; (O.S.); (P.J.); (A.B.F.)
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Vujaklija Brajković A, Grgat M, Bielen L, Brajković J, Zlopaša O, Vrdoljak NG, Radonić R. Self-poisoning as a cause of admission in a medical intensive care unit and a question of misuse of prescription medications. Heart Lung 2021; 51:17-21. [PMID: 34731692 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-poisoning accounts for between 3 and 17% of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. OBJECTIVES To display the misused substances, intention, and outcome of patients admitted to the ICU due to self-poisoning. METHODS A retrospective review of ICU admissions using an electronic patient database was performed. RESULTS A total of 149 patients were admitted, accounting for 4.6% of ICU admissions. Self-poisoning with self-harm was more frequent than without self-harm intent (62.4% vs. 37.6%). 64.4% of ingested substances were misused prescribed drugs. Females used antipsychotics (X2 = 15, p< 0.05) and benzodiazepines (X2 =11.52, p< 0.05), and males ingested antipsychotics (X2 = 12, p< 0.05) with a self-harm intent. Antipsychotics were always used with a self-harm intent. Illicit drugs (X2 =9.14, p< 0.05) and ethanol (X2 =7.34, p< 0.05) were mostly used without self-harm intent. 102 patients (68.5%) continued treatment in a psychiatric clinic, more often women (X2 (1,N = 145)=7.94, p< 0.005). The readmission rate was low. Mortality was 2.6%. CONCLUSION Self-poisoning is an infrequent cause of ICU admission. Prescribed psychotropic medications, including benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and antidepressants were the most frequently misused substances. Psychiatric consultation before the ICU discharge and subsequent psychiatric treatment might lower the repetition and readmission rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vujaklija Brajković
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, Zagreb 10000, Croatia; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
| | - Marta Grgat
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Luka Bielen
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, Zagreb 10000, Croatia; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Jurica Brajković
- Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Jordanovac 110, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Ozrenka Zlopaša
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Nina Gubarev Vrdoljak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Radovan Radonić
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, Zagreb 10000, Croatia; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
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Harro J, Aadamsoo K, Rootslane L, Laius O, O'Leary A, Adomaitiene V, Kupca B, Lehtmets A, Navickas A, Rancans E, Taube M, Terauds E, Pops K. Comparison of psychotropic medication use in the Baltic countries. Nord J Psychiatry 2020; 74:301-306. [PMID: 31889460 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1707283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: While the pivotal role of pharmacotherapy in psychiatry is universal, significant regional differences exist in drug use patterns. Herewith we compare the use of ATC psychotropic drugs (N05, psycholeptics and N06A, antidepressants) in 2010-2015 in the three Baltic Countries with reference to the Nordic Countries.Methods: Data were obtained from the national authorities on medicines as expressed in DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for expert statements on the rationale of current use of medicines.Results: During the observation period the use of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives, and antidepressants steadily increased, while the growth in use of anxiolytics stagnated in the more recent years. Antipsychotic use was the largest in Lithuania and the lowest in Estonia. The use on anxiolytics in Lithuania was more than twice of that in Estonia and Latvia. Conversely, the use of hypnotics and sedatives was about three times higher in Estonia than in Latvia or Lithuania. Antidepressant use was dominated by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in all three countries, but overall was much lower in Latvia as compared to Lithuania and Estonia. As compared to the Nordic Countries in 2015, antidepressants are used at much lower level throughout Baltics, probably reflecting underdiagnostics of depression and anxiety disorders.Conclusion: While the health-care expenditures in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are largely similar, as is the cultural and recent political background of these EU member countries, the extent and the pattern of psychotropic drug use is remarkably variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaanus Harro
- North Estonia Medical Centre, Psychiatry Clinic, Tallinn, Estonia.,Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kaire Aadamsoo
- North Estonia Medical Centre, Psychiatry Clinic, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Ly Rootslane
- Estonian State Agency of Medicines, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ott Laius
- Estonian State Agency of Medicines, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Aet O'Leary
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Biruta Kupca
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Alvydas Navickas
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Elmars Rancans
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Maris Taube
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Elmars Terauds
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
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