Abstract

TROBO, Viviana Domínguez et al. Perfil epidemiológico de las intoxicaciones por benzodiazepinas recibidas en el Centro de Información y Asesoramiento Toxicológico uruguayo en el período 2010-2011. Rev. Méd. Urug. [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.1, pp.32-38. ISSN 1688-0390.

Abstract Introduction: the use of benzodiazepine has constantly increased since the 1960s. High exposure to this drug is evident in the large number of benzodiazepine poisoning cases, which represent between 27% and 40% of drug poisoning in international series, as well as in other factors. Objective: to describe the epidemiological profile of benzodiazepine poisoning in our country. Method: all consultations for poisoning involving benzodiazepine that was registered in the database of the Toxicology Assistance and Information Center from 2010 through 2011 were analysed. Results: the total number of toxic agents involved in poisoning consultations was 31,228, 18,530 of which corresponded to drugs. Benzodiazepines accounted for 22.80% (7,123) of toxic agents and 36.3% (6,769) of drugs. Twenty one thousand 452 consultations for presumed intoxication which were associated to benzodiazepines as a toxic agent involved in 6,186 (28.20%) were registered. Benzodiazepine poisoning prevailes in adults (4,578, 74.10%) and women (4,600, 74.30%). Intentional intake of benzodiazepines was the most frequent poisoning event (89.54%). Clonazepam, diazepam and alprazolam were the benzodiazepines involved more often. All acute cases (68, 1.09%) corresponded to combined poisoning, five of which resulted in death. Conclusions: national poisoning casuistic for benzodiazepine matches those reported in international series and still evidences the major role played by benzodiazepines in acute drug poisoning. Data reveal a large number of intoxications involving this therapeutic drug that includes a high percentage of children and a low number of acute cases, what suggests we should focus on consumption and use and type of use as determining factors of the high exposure to thess psychiatric drugs in our population.

Keywords : BENZODIAZEPINES; POISONING.

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