Pentazocine Addiction causing Bacterial Endocarditis and Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

An emotionally unstable medical technician, without prior history of drug dependence who developed pentazocine addiction, is described. Chronic, unsupervised, intravenous use of crushed tablets of pentazocine caused bacterial endocarditis, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary edema-like picture. Our patient illustrates that even in the absence of past history of drug dependence, the use of pentazocine should, at best, be avoided in emotionally unstable patients, and patients with easy access to the drug.