Citation

Bassett KE, Schunk JE, Crouch BI. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 1996; 14(5): 472-474.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0735-6757(96)90156-4

PMID

8765114

Abstract

Substance abuse by teenagers is common, often involving use of alcohol and illicit drugs. Ingestion of cyclizine hydrochloride, a nonprescription medication, was noted to occur frequently in Utah for abuse reasons. A retrospective review was conducted of patients younger than 18 years of age over a 3-year period who intentionally ingested cyclizine identified from Utah Poison Control Center records. Eighty patients were included; 42 patients underwent hospital record review. Abuse accounted for 89% of cyclizine ingestions; hallucinations (70%) and confusion/disorientation (40%) were the most notable symptoms. Tachycardia (52%) and systolic hypertension (69%) were frequently present in patients who presented to a hospital. No serious complications occurred. This study illustrates teenage abuse of one nonprescription antihistamine presumably to induce hallucinations. Abuse of over-the-counter medications by adolescents may be more appealing than illicit drug use for numerous reasons, and may be more common than appreciated.

Language: en