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[Attempted suicide with barbiturates purchased online].
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2016; 160:D491.NT

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Barbiturate intoxication is potentially lethal. With the availability of the newer anticonvulsants the use of barbiturates in treating epilepsy has decreased significantly, with a concurrent decrease in the incidence of overdose with these medications. There have, however, been recent alarm signals from governmental sources concerning the increase in the Internet purchase of illegal medications, including barbiturates, for use in attempted suicide.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Here we describe two patient cases involving barbiturate intoxication with amobarbital and thiopental, respectively. They had both obtained the barbiturates via the Internet. Both patients were comatose and showed signs of respiratory depression; one of them was also haemodynamically unstable. Both patients recovered fully following intensive supportive therapy.

CONCLUSION

In patients with coma, respiratory depression, absence of brainstem reflexes and shock with no evident cause one should be aware of the possibility of barbiturate intoxication, even when there is no indication that these have been prescribed or that the patient has direct or indirect access to barbiturates. Prompt, optimal supportive therapy will give a good chance of full somatic recovery.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Chavoushi SF
Meander Medisch Centrum, Amersfoort.
Mesman L
No affiliation info available
Noordzij PG
No affiliation info available
Sikma MA
No affiliation info available
van Maarseveen EM
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AmobarbitalAnticonvulsantsBarbituratesComaDrug OverdoseFemaleHumansMaleRespiratory InsufficiencySuicide, AttemptedThiopental

Pub Type(s)

Case Reports
Journal Article

Language

dut

PubMed ID

27848906

Citation

Chavoushi, S F., et al. "[Attempted Suicide With Barbiturates Purchased Online]." Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde, vol. 160, 2016, p. D491.
Chavoushi SF, Mesman L, Noordzij PG, et al. [Attempted suicide with barbiturates purchased online]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2016;160:D491.
Chavoushi, S. F., Mesman, L., Noordzij, P. G., Sikma, M. A., & van Maarseveen, E. M. (2016). [Attempted suicide with barbiturates purchased online]. Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde, 160, D491.
Chavoushi SF, et al. [Attempted Suicide With Barbiturates Purchased Online]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2016;160:D491. PubMed PMID: 27848906.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - [Attempted suicide with barbiturates purchased online]. AU - Chavoushi,S F, AU - Mesman,L, AU - Noordzij,P G, AU - Sikma,M A, AU - van Maarseveen,E M, PY - 2016/11/17/entrez PY - 2016/11/17/pubmed PY - 2018/2/23/medline SP - D491 EP - D491 JF - Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde JO - Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd VL - 160 N2 - BACKGROUND: Barbiturate intoxication is potentially lethal. With the availability of the newer anticonvulsants the use of barbiturates in treating epilepsy has decreased significantly, with a concurrent decrease in the incidence of overdose with these medications. There have, however, been recent alarm signals from governmental sources concerning the increase in the Internet purchase of illegal medications, including barbiturates, for use in attempted suicide. CASE DESCRIPTION: Here we describe two patient cases involving barbiturate intoxication with amobarbital and thiopental, respectively. They had both obtained the barbiturates via the Internet. Both patients were comatose and showed signs of respiratory depression; one of them was also haemodynamically unstable. Both patients recovered fully following intensive supportive therapy. CONCLUSION: In patients with coma, respiratory depression, absence of brainstem reflexes and shock with no evident cause one should be aware of the possibility of barbiturate intoxication, even when there is no indication that these have been prescribed or that the patient has direct or indirect access to barbiturates. Prompt, optimal supportive therapy will give a good chance of full somatic recovery. SN - 1876-8784 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/27848906/[Attempted_suicide_with_barbiturates_purchased_online]_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -