Evolving Epidemiology of Drug-Induced Seizures Reported to a Poison Control Center System

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kearney TE ; Olson KR ; Thundiyil JG
• Description:
  INTRODUCTION: We sought to determine whether or not the causes and consequences of drug-induced seizures have changed in the last decade. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all calls to the California Poison Control System in 2003 in which seizures occurred in association with poisoning or drug intoxication. We reviewed the poison center chart of each case to determine the drug(s) involved, the type of seizures, and the medical outcome. We compared the cause of reported seizures to that found in previous investigations. RESULTS: 386 cases were evaluated and related to poisoning or drug intoxication. The leading causes of seizures were bupropion (89 cases, 23%), diphenhydramine (32 cases, 8.3%), tricyclic antidepressants (30 cases, 7.7%), tramadol (29 cases, 7.5%), amphetamines (27 cases, 6.9%), isoniazid (23 cases, 5.9%), and venlafaxine (23 cases, 5.9%). Since 1993, there was a statistically significant increase in antidepressant related seizures but a decrease in TCA and cocaine related seizures. In 265 patients (68.6%) only a single seizure was reported, while 3.6% (14 cases) reported status epilepticus. Two-thirds (65.5%) of the cases involved suicide attempts and 14.8% the direct result of drug abuse. There were 7 deaths. Of the 7 deaths, 4 people had significant hyperthermia. There was a statistically significant increased risk of death associated with stimulant exposure. CONCLUSION: While tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, stimulants, and isoniazid remain common causes of drug induced seizures, bupropion, tramadol, and venlafaxine have emerged as common causes of drug-induced seizures for which poison center consultation is requested. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergency Responders Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Hypersensitivity Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Health Poisoning Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Toxicology

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Drug Induced Seizures Biological-effects Chemical-hypersensitivity Drug-interaction Drugs Emergency-treatment Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-methods Health-care-facilities Health-hazards Medical-facilities Medical-monitoring Medical-rescue-services Medical-services Medical-surveys Nervous-system-disorders Neurological-reactions Neurological-system Physiological-effects Physiological-measurements Physiological-response Poison-control Poisons Risk-analysis Risk-factors Seizure Complications Seizure Morbidity Statistical-analysis Status Epilepticus Toxic-effects

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• ISSN:
  1556-9039
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Florida ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  15-19
• Volume:
  3
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20037232
• Citation:
  J Med Toxicol 2007 Mar; 3(1):15-19
• Contact Point Address:
  Josef G. Thundiyil, MD, MPH, 7300 Westpointe Blvd #727, Orlando, FL 32835
• Email:
  joseft@mindspring.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Medical Toxicology
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:427cd2472359cb4f6a0b337c250a2a5c8e2bf67b9a93746612dc2c063bca161134cf3f73a3a93985b3aa5ccd31d21eb72d0aa3c9610dd71f1094e98360aa0b8a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/188359/cdc_188359_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 772.19 KB ]