Medically serious self-poisoning in West Fife, 1970-1979

Two thousand two hundred and four patients with acute poisoning admitted between 1970 and 1979 to an acute District Medical Unit were reviewed with special regard to the serious medical consequences of overdosage. The incidence of barbiturate and methaqualone poisonings declined but benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and dextroproproxyphene were more commonly taken. As a result, there was no overall change in the proportion of patients admitted unconscious or requiring respiratory support. The dangers of dextropropoxyphene poisoning have become increasingly apparent, and poisoning with paracetamol has become as frequent as salicylate poisoning. In view of these changing trends, measures to limit the morbidity and mortality from self-poisoning are suggested.