Citation

Nixon AC, Doak MW, Crozier H, Crooks DP, Waring WS. QJM 2009; 102(1): 51-56.

Affiliation

Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK and Medicines Management Team, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/qjmed/hcn148

PMID

19004924

Abstract

Background and AIMS: Antiepileptic drugs are increasingly used in patients with psychiatric disorders who are at increased risk of self-harm. This might increase the likelihood that these agents are used as a means of overdose. This study was designed to examine the rate of occurrence of antiepileptic drug overdose between 2000 and 2007. METHODS: A retrospective observational study examined patterns of antiepileptic drug overdose in patients admitted to the Edinburgh Poisons Unit, and compared prescription data for the corresponding region. Data were compared using chi-square trend tests. RESULTS: There were 18 010 admissions to the Toxicology Unit, and 613 patients ingested at least one antiepileptic drug (3.4%). The most frequently implicated were carbamazepine, sodium valproate, phenytoin and lamotrigine, which corresponded with those most commonly prescribed. Women were more likely to ingest lamotrigine than men (P < 0.0001), and less likely to ingest sodium valproate (P = 0.0234). Patients that ingested antiepileptic drugs were more likely to be admitted to hospital for >1 day (22% vs. 8%, P < 0.0001) and need transfer to a psychiatric facility (14% vs. 7%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Patients that ingested antiepileptic drugs required more intensive medical and psychiatric intervention compared to ingestion of other agents. Significant gender differences were noted in the specific antiepileptic drug ingested. Further work is required to establish whether this discrepancy may be explained by gender-based prescribing practices.

Language: en