Drugs of Abuse

Herbal Products ◽

Modern Novel ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Nonmedical Use ◽

Sedative Hypnotics ◽

The term “drugs of abuse” lacks a formal medical definition. Historically, discussions of drugs of abuse focused on “street drugs”; however, the adverse effects of the nonmedical use of prescription medications, such as opiates, benzodiazepines, and therapeutic amphetamines, are increasingly seen. The purpose of this review is to aid the clinician in identifying and treating a broad representation of drugs of abuse, which may include those illicitly produced in laboratories (e.g., methamphetamine), diverted pharmaceuticals (oxycodone), and herbal products (marijuana). This review covers stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids, and sedative-hypnotics. Figures show substances ranked according to weighted harm score on a normalized scale from 0 being no harm to 100 being extreme harm to self and others, a treatment algorithm for sympathomimetic toxicity, a treatment algorithm for sedative-hypnotic overdose, and a treatment algorithm for opioid overdose. Tables list commonly abused sympathomimetic agents, modern novel drugs of abuse, commonly abused sedative-hypnotic agents, commonly abused opiates, and pitfalls of the drug screen. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 89 references

Drugs of Abuse

10.2310/im.4334 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew D Zuckerman ◽

Kavita Babu

Keyword(s):

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Treatment Algorithm ◽

Opioid Overdose ◽

Herbal Products ◽

Modern Novel ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Nonmedical Use ◽

Sedative Hypnotics ◽

The term “drugs of abuse” lacks a formal medical definition. Historically, discussions of drugs of abuse focused on “street drugs”; however, the adverse effects of the nonmedical use of prescription medications, such as opiates, benzodiazepines, and therapeutic amphetamines, are increasingly seen. The purpose of this review is to aid the clinician in identifying and treating a broad representation of drugs of abuse, which may include those illicitly produced in laboratories (e.g., methamphetamine), diverted pharmaceuticals (oxycodone), and herbal products (marijuana). This review covers stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids, and sedative-hypnotics. Figures show substances ranked according to weighted harm score on a normalized scale from 0 being no harm to 100 being extreme harm to self and others, a treatment algorithm for sympathomimetic toxicity, a treatment algorithm for sedative-hypnotic overdose, and a treatment algorithm for opioid overdose. Tables list commonly abused sympathomimetic agents, modern novel drugs of abuse, commonly abused sedative-hypnotic agents, commonly abused opiates, and pitfalls of the drug screen. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 89 references

Drugs of Abuse

10.2310/tywc.4334 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew D Zuckerman ◽

Kavita Babu

Keyword(s):

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Treatment Algorithm ◽

Opioid Overdose ◽

Herbal Products ◽

Modern Novel ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Nonmedical Use ◽

Sedative Hypnotics ◽

The term “drugs of abuse” lacks a formal medical definition. Historically, discussions of drugs of abuse focused on “street drugs”; however, the adverse effects of the nonmedical use of prescription medications, such as opiates, benzodiazepines, and therapeutic amphetamines, are increasingly seen. The purpose of this review is to aid the clinician in identifying and treating a broad representation of drugs of abuse, which may include those illicitly produced in laboratories (e.g., methamphetamine), diverted pharmaceuticals (oxycodone), and herbal products (marijuana). This review covers stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids, and sedative-hypnotics. Figures show substances ranked according to weighted harm score on a normalized scale from 0 being no harm to 100 being extreme harm to self and others, a treatment algorithm for sympathomimetic toxicity, a treatment algorithm for sedative-hypnotic overdose, and a treatment algorithm for opioid overdose. Tables list commonly abused sympathomimetic agents, modern novel drugs of abuse, commonly abused sedative-hypnotic agents, commonly abused opiates, and pitfalls of the drug screen. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 89 references

Drugs of Abuse

10.2310/em.4334 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew D Zuckerman ◽

Kavita Babu

Keyword(s):

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Treatment Algorithm ◽

Opioid Overdose ◽

Street Drugs ◽

Herbal Products ◽

Modern Novel ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Sedative Hypnotics ◽

The term “drugs of abuse” lacks a formal medical definition. Historically, discussions of drugs of abuse focused on “street drugs”; however, the adverse effects of the nonmedical use of prescription medications, such as opiates, benzodiazepines, and therapeutic amphetamines, are increasingly seen. The purpose of this review is to aid the clinician in identifying and treating a broad representation of drugs of abuse, which may include those illicitly produced in laboratories (e.g., methamphetamine), diverted pharmaceuticals (oxycodone), and herbal products (marijuana). This review covers stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids, and sedative-hypnotics. Figures show substances ranked according to weighted harm score on a normalized scale from 0 being no harm to 100 being extreme harm to self and others, a treatment algorithm for sympathomimetic toxicity, a treatment algorithm for sedative-hypnotic overdose, and a treatment algorithm for opioid overdose. Tables list commonly abused sympathomimetic agents, modern novel drugs of abuse, commonly abused sedative-hypnotic agents, commonly abused opiates, and pitfalls of the drug screen. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, and 90 references. Key Words: street drugs, prescription medications, opiates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, stimulants, hallucinogens, oxycodone, marijuana, overdose

Oral Aloe Vera-Induced Hepatitis

Annals of Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1345/aph.1k132 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 41 (10) ◽

pp. 1740-1743 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Michelle M Bottenberg ◽

Geoffrey C Wall ◽

Roger L Harvey ◽

Shahid Habib

Keyword(s):

Acute Hepatitis ◽

Safety Information ◽

Aloe Vera ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Medication History ◽

Herbal Products ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

The Us ◽

Liver Markers

Objective: To report a case of possible oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis. Case Summary: A 73-year-old female was admitted to the hospital for acute hepatitis. Extensive laboratory testing did not reveal the cause of the patient's disease. She was asked multiple times whether she was taking any home medications, which she initially denied. It was only after an extensive medication history done by a clinical pharmacist that the patient admitted to using oral aloe vera capsules for constipation. Upon discontinuation of the oral aloe vera, liver markers of hepatotoxicity returned to normal levels. Discussion: Herbal medications pose an increasing problem in patient safety, as the different types of these products and the number of patients who use them continue to grow. In the US, these products are not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny as prescription medications; thus, safety information can be difficult to obtain. In particular, hepatic toxicity due to herbal agents is poorly described in the medical literature. Aloe vera, often used topically for minor burns, can also be used orally as a laxative or an “anti-aging” agent. According to the Naranjo probability scale, the hepatotoxicity in this case was possibly related to ingestion of oral aloe vera. Additionally, using the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method for determining drug hepatotoxicity, the patient's symptoms were scored as probably caused by oral aloe vera. The more conservative designation was used in our report. Conclusions: With the widespread use of oral aloe vera and other herbal products, clinicians faced with a case of acute hepatitis that is not readily diagnosed should question patients about herbal use.