Related Experiment Videos
Promethazine overdose: is it a "Goodnight" after all?
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|August 8, 1998
Summary
Promethazine overdose cases increased significantly after Goodnight became available in New Zealand, leading to high hospital admissions and intensive care needs. This highlights concerns regarding unrestricted access to this medication.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Promethazine, an antihistamine, is available in New Zealand as an unrestricted, pharmacy-only medication.
- The introduction of the product 'Goodnight' containing promethazine has raised concerns about potential increases in overdose incidents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the perceived increase in promethazine overdoses presenting to Auckland Hospital Emergency Department.
- To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with promethazine overdose.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of Emergency Department records from December 19, 1994, to July 31, 1996.
- Comparison with historical data from January 1, 1984, to December 18, 1994.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five promethazine overdose cases presented between December 1994 and July 1996, with a peak in 1996.
- The majority of patients were young adults (15-25 years), and 60% ingested entire boxes of Goodnight.
- 48% required intensive care, and 20% had prolonged hospital stays.
Conclusions:
- The availability of promethazine as an unrestricted medication is associated with significant morbidity and healthcare costs.
- Recommendations include reviewing marketing laws and restricting the availability of promethazine.