Co-proxamol withdrawal has reduced suicide from drugs in Scotland.

• Abstract: AIM: To determine what effect the withdrawal of co-proxamol from the UK market has had on mortality from poisoning in Scotland. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of mortality relating to poisoning by single agents in Scotland for the period 2000-2006. Mortality data were obtained from the General Register Office Scotland, and primary care prescribing data from the Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Executive Health Department. RESULTS: A significant reduction in the proportion of poisoning deaths due to co-proxamol was observed following legislation [mean 2000-2004, 37 deaths (21.8% of total poisoning deaths); 2006, 10 (7.8%); P < 0.0001]. The most significant reduction was seen in male out-of-hospital deaths [mean 2000-2004, 17 (21.8%); 2006, two (2.9%); P < 0.0001]. This was associated with a decline in prescriptions by 60% within 6 months of legislation. The total number of poisoning deaths also fell, slightly earlier than the full impact on co-proxamol deaths (mean 2000-2004, 171.2; mean 2005-2006, 129.5; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Legislation has resulted in a major reduction in the number of deaths associated with co-proxamol poisoning in Scotland, with no compensatory rise in mortality from poisonings from other common analgesics. We estimate from this study that a minimum of 300 lives across the UK will have been saved by the withdrawal of co-proxamol.
• Authors: Euan A Sandilands, D Nicolas Bateman (Affiliation: NPIS Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. euan.sandilands at luht.scot.nhs.uk)
• Journal: British journal of clinical pharmacology (Br J Clin Pharmacol) Vol. 66 Issue 2 Pg. 290-3 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1365-2125 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18489609 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Drug Combinations
• Acetaminophen
• acetaminophen, dextropropoxyphene, drug combination
• Dextropropoxyphene

Topics

• Acetaminophen (poisoning, supply & distribution)
• Adult
• Analgesics (poisoning, supply & distribution)
• Dextropropoxyphene (poisoning, supply & distribution)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Humans
• Legislation, Drug
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Overdose (mortality)
• Registries
• Retrospective Studies
• Scotland (epidemiology)
• Suicide (trends)