Citation

Bozkurt M, Karabulut V, Evren C, Seker M, Kan H. Subst. Abuse 2014; 36(2): 170-173.

Affiliation

Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry Neurology and Neurosurgery, Alcohol and Drug Research, Treatment and Training Center (AMATEM) , Istanbul , Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08897077.2014.924465

PMID

24892477

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tropicamide is an antimuscarinic ophthalmic solution used to produce short-acting mydriasis and cycloplegia. Topical abuse of ophthalmic solutions has been reported, but intravenous (IV) abuse of tropicamide seems to be a new phenomenon. Cases: We present two patients with concomitant IV tropicamide abuse and opioid use disorder. Patients were hospitalized and started on buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for opioid withdrawal. Patients' reports about tropicamide effects are remarkable as they claimed that tropicamide increased the efficacy of heroin while decreasing and delaying the withdrawal symptoms.

DISCUSSION: Although anticholinergics have been known to be abused for their euphoric effects, our cases' motivation to use tropicamide seemed to extend beyond its euphoric effect and was also based on its interaction with heroin. We fear that tropicamide abuse may become more frequent. Health professionals should be aware of this trend so that symptoms of misuse and intoxication can be recognized, and ophthalmologists should consider the abuse potential of anticholinergic eye drops when prescribing them.

Language: en