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Acute poisoning from over-the-counter sleep preparations
JACEP
|March 1, 1979
Summary
Over-the-counter sleep aids like Sominex, Nytol, and Sleepeze can cause severe toxicity. Most serious symptoms from these sleep preparations appear within six hours, but no deaths were reported.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep preparations are widely available.
- Understanding their toxicity profile is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the toxicity range of OTC sleep aids.
- To identify characteristic symptoms and onset times of toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 155 cases involving OTC sleep preparations at a poison center.
- Analysis of ingested agents, symptomology, and time of onset.
Main Results:
- Sominex, Nytol, and Sleepeze were the most common agents; multiple ingestions occurred.
- Symptomatology was equally divided between no, mild, and life-threatening symptoms.
- Life-threatening symptoms occurred within six hours in most cases; no deaths were reported.
Conclusions:
- OTC sleep aids can cause significant toxicity, including life-threatening symptoms.
- Prompt medical evaluation is important for significant ingestions.
- Further research into specific agent toxicity is warranted.