Citation

Lineberry TW, Bostwick JM. Mayo Clin. Proc. 2004; 79(8): 1031-1034.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.4065/79.8.1031

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the United States, psychoactive prescription medications rank second only to marijuana as drags of abuse (if tobacco and alcohol are discounted). Physician stopping-visiting multiple physicians simply to procure prescriptions-has been a traditional method for acquiring drugs Illicitly. As community-based efforts to curtail physician shopping have expanded, drug abusers have turned increasingly to the internet. Illegal internet pharmacies, increasing rapidly in number during the past decade and requiring neither prescription nor physician oversight, offer minimal interference to obtaining drugs. With no physician involved, patients cease to be patients. Instead, they become consumers sale to buy prescription medications, even controlled substances, from anonymous providers offering no ongoing treatment relationship and taking no responsibility for the drugs dispensed. When complications occur, these consumers become patients, turning back to the traditional medical system to manage overdoses, addictions, and drug adverse effects and interactions. We present a case series illustrating some of the medical problems that resulted from drugs bought on-line illegally.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Internet; suicide; female; male; case report; depression; drug abuse; rhabdomyolysis; pharmacy; article; physician; prescription; amitriptyline; paroxetine; opiate; intensive care unit; anxiety disorder; heart muscle conduction disturbance; seizure; tramadol; dysphoria; artificial ventilation; oxycodone; withdrawal syndrome; analgesia; clonazepam; endotracheal intubation; computer; respiration depression; QRS complex; hydrocodone; online system