DRUG POISONING IN SLOVENIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND The Slovenian Register of Intoxications managed by the Poison Control Centre at LjubljanaUniversity Medical Centre was established in 2001. It offers a continuous review ofpoisoning in Slovenia. Our aim was to study the epidemiology of acute drug poisoning inadult patients admitted to hospitals in Slovenia. METHODS We analyzed the data of reported acutely poisoned patients older than 16 years who weretreated in hospitals in Slovenia between 2001 and 2005. RESULTS A total of 1,838 adult acutely poisoned patients were reported to the Register of Intoxicationsbetween 2001 and 2005, of whom 1,234 (67 %) were poisoned by drugs. 67 % ofpatients poisoned by drugs were women and 76 % of patients ingested drugs at home 85 % of patients ingested drugs in suicide attempts. Anxyolytics, hypnotics, sedatives, antipsychoticsand antidepressants represented 68 % of all ingested drugs due to self-poisoning.Drugs for the musculo-skeletal system and drugs for the cardiovascular system followedpoisoning by these drugs. There were 6 benzodiazepines and related drugs betweenthe 10 most commonly ingested drugs due to self-poisoning. The most common signs ofacute drug poisoning were somnolence and coma (75 %). A gastric lavage was performedin 64 % of patients, active charcoal was given to 73 % of patients and 35 % of patients weretreated with an antidote. CONCLUSIONS Poisoning by drugs for the nervous system, particularly benzodiazepines, is the most commonform of poisoning by drugs in Slovenia. It would be necessary to report all acutelypoisoned patients to the Register of Intoxications, since we need data about all poisoningin Slovenia to improve their prophylaxis and treatment