Abstract
Objective: Poisoning with suicidal intention is a serious health issue among adults. Poisoning, as an emergency, is more common in India due to the easy availability of poisons, increased use of chemicals in industrial and domestic purposes. The objective of the study is to evaluate the nature of poisoning cases and the drug utilization pattern of poisoning cases.
 Methods: A medical record-based retrospective data collection was conducted over a period of 21/2 years. Each prescription was analyzed by the demographic profile, the manner of poisoning (accidental or suicidal), the number of pharmacological agents causing poisoning, and type or name of the pharmacological agent responsible for the poisoning.
 Results: Among 127 total patients, 113 cases were suicidal. Systemic poisons (47.24%) were more consumed in our study, among which benzodiazepines (16.54%) being the most common sub-class ingested. Of the 862 medications prescribed, normal saline (38.97%) was the most commonly infused intravenous fluid. Gastric lavage (38.1%) has been the most frequently used general measures. Injection pantoprazole (50.6%) was the commonly prescribed anti-ulcer drug. The most commonly used analgesic (47.83%) was paracetamol, antimicrobial agent was cefotaxime (25%), Vitamin and minerals were Vitamin B complex (68%), steroid was hydrocortisone (76%), and antidote was atropine (37.5%).
 Conclusion: The magnitude of poisoning was high for suicidal purposes, in the young age group and in females. Intravenous fluids and general measures were the mainstay of the management of poisoned cases. Educational programs with an emphasis on preventive measures for toxic exposures are necessary to create awareness and to construct preventive strategies. Suggestions like poisoning centers in tertiary care hospitals will also help decrease morbidity and mortality.
Highlights
Poisoning is a universal serious health problem that interferes with the well-being of human populations and one of the commonest cases admitted to the emergency department
It is reported that a significant number of suicide attempts in young people is frequently executed by drug overdose and observed more frequently in women [2]
The poisoning cases were analyzed by the demographic profile, the manner of poisoning, the number and the type or name of pharmacological and chemical agents responsible for the poisoning, and the drugs utilized for the management of poisoning cases were recorded
Summary
Poisoning is a universal serious health problem that interferes with the well-being of human populations and one of the commonest cases admitted to the emergency department. Toxicity of poisons with suicidal tendency has become a health threat, among adults. Pesticide poisoning is a significant problem in India. Organophosphorus (OP) compounds cause most self-poisoning deaths in South India. Poisoning is an unnatural factor of morbidity and mortality commonly found in rural India [1]. It is reported that a significant number of suicide attempts in young people is frequently executed by drug overdose and observed more frequently in women [2]. It is reported that 1–5% suicide attempts by drug overdose have resulted in death [3]
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