AIM: To determine what effect the withdrawal of co-proxamol from the UK market has had on mortality from poisoning in Scotland. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of mortality relating to poisoning by single agents in Scotland for the period 2000-2006. Mortality data were obtained from the General Register Office Scotland, and primary care prescribing data from the Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Executive Health Department. RESULTS: A significant reduction in the proportion of poisoning deaths due to co-proxamol was observed following legislation [mean 2000-2004, 37 deaths (21.8% of total poisoning deaths); 2006, 10 (7.8%); P < 0.0001]. The most significant reduction was seen in male out-of-hospital deaths [mean 2000-2004, 17 (21.8%); 2006, two (2.9%); P < 0.0001]. This was associated with a decline in prescriptions by 60% within 6 months of legislation. The total number of poisoning deaths also fell, slightly earlier than the full impact on co-proxamol deaths (mean 2000-2004, 171.2; mean 2005-2006, 129.5; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Legislation has resulted in a major reduction in the number of deaths associated with co-proxamol poisoning in Scotland, with no compensatory rise in mortality from poisonings from other common analgesics. We estimate from this study that a minimum of 300 lives across the UK will have been saved by the withdrawal of co-proxamol.
AIM: To determine what effect the withdrawal of co-proxamol from the UK market has had on mortality from poisoning in Scotland. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of mortality relating to poisoning by single agents in Scotland for the period 2000-2006. Mortality data were obtained from the General Register Office Scotland, and primary care prescribing data from the Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Executive Health Department. RESULTS: A significant reduction in the proportion of poisoning deaths due to co-proxamol was observed following legislation [mean 2000-2004, 37 deaths (21.8% of total poisoning deaths); 2006, 10 (7.8%); P < 0.0001]. The most significant reduction was seen in male out-of-hospital deaths [mean 2000-2004, 17 (21.8%); 2006, two (2.9%); P < 0.0001]. This was associated with a decline in prescriptions by 60% within 6 months of legislation. The total number of poisoning deaths also fell, slightly earlier than the full impact on co-proxamol deaths (mean 2000-2004, 171.2; mean 2005-2006, 129.5; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Legislation has resulted in a major reduction in the number of deaths associated with co-proxamolpoisoning in Scotland, with no compensatory rise in mortality from poisonings from other common analgesics. We estimate from this study that a minimum of 300 lives across the UK will have been saved by the withdrawal of co-proxamol.
Authors: Paul Acheampong; Gill Cooper; Behshad Khazaeli; David J Lupton; Sue White; Margaret T May; Simon H L Thomas Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Airi Värnik; Merike Sisask; Peeter Värnik; Jing Wu; Kairi Kõlves; Ella Arensman; Margareth Maxwell; Thomas Reisch; Ricardo Gusmão; Chantal van Audenhove; Gert Scheerder; Christina M van der Feltz-Cornelis; Claire Coffey; Maria Kopp; Andras Szekely; Saska Roskar; Ulrich Hegerl Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-01-29 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Keith Hawton; Helen Bergen; Sue Simkin; Anita Brock; Clare Griffiths; Ester Romeri; Karen L Smith; Navneet Kapur; David Gunnell Journal: BMJ Date: 2009-06-18