hydrocodone and Coma

The combination of hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and alprazolam is subject to abuse. Ingestions of this drug combination reported to Texas poison centers during 1998-2009 were identified (totaling 1,295 cases) and the distribution of ingestions by selected factors was determined. The number of cases increased from 0 in 1998 to 200 in 2007, and then decreased to 132 in 2009. The counties in eastern and southeastern Texas accounted for 80.9% of the cases. Of the patients, 57.3% were women and 94.6% were age 20 or older. Suspected attempted suicide accounted for 59.3% of the cases and intentional misuse or abuse for 27.3%.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alprazolam; Carisoprodol; Coma; Drug Combinations; Eating; Female; Humans; Hydrocodone; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Relaxants, Central; Narcotics; Poison Control Centers; Retrospective Studies; Texas; Time Factors

The case of a 6-year-old boy presenting with severe clinical manifestations of an opioid intoxication and who is discovered to be an international "body packer" is presented and discussed. This article is the first to report on the phenomenon of body packing in young children. It also highlights the use of prescription opioids as cargo, which has not previously been addressed in the literature.

Topics: Child; Child Abuse; Coma; Crime; Diseases in Twins; False Negative Reactions; Gastrointestinal Contents; Haiti; Humans; Hydrocodone; Male; New York City; Oxycodone; Substance Abuse Detection; Tablets; Travel; Urinalysis

Topics: Barbital; Barbiturates; Coma; Hydrocodone