ABSTRACT
The widespread use of new psychoactive substances and their growing numbers present a serious challenge for emergency care physicians. Currently, the Polish market is dominated by legal intoxicants containing synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones, although other substances, such as hallucinogens, phenylethylamine derivatives or GABA-receptor agonists, are also common. Those drugs vary in mechanisms of action, route of administration and their psychoactive and somatic effects. Since novel psychoactive substances have been established as illegal and are no longer labelled, at times even the users themselves do not know exactly what kind of substance they have consumed. Thus, the determination of appropriate treatment for psychoses caused by novel psychoactive substances requires some basic knowledge of their mechanisms of action and the ability to assess what type of substance has been consumed. The treatment of psychoses due to drug intoxication relies mainly on benzodiazepines and antypsychotics. Benzodiazepines are considered the treatment of choice in cases of synthetic cannabinoid of psychostimulant intoxication, whereas antipsychotic medicines should be preferred in cases of intoxication with illicit drugs with predominant hallucinogenic properties. Second-generation antipsychotics should be preferred to first-generation agents due to a smaller incidence of adverse events and smaller risk of interaction. The route of administration of the drug has to be chosen based on the patient’s co-operation and the urgency of obtaining adequate sedation.
KEYWORDS: psychoactive substances, psychoses, intoxication.
Zdjęcia: archiwum prywatne (5)
Piśmiennictwo
1. Weaver MF, Hopper JA, Gunderson EW. Designer drugs 2015: assessment and management. Science & Clinical Practice 2015;10:8
2. Szily E, Bitter I. Designer drugs in psychiatric practice – A review of the literature and the recent situation in Hungary. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2013;15(4):223-31
3. Erbguth F. Mode-und Designerdrogen. Von Ecstasy und Crystal Meth bis Engeltrompete. Medizinische Klinik – Intenzivmedizin und Notfall Medizin 2016;111(7):630-7
4. Valeriani G, Corazza O, Bersani FS et al. Olanzapine as the ideal „trip terminator”? Analysis of online reports relating to antipsychotics’ use and misuse following occurence of novel psychoactive substances-related psychotic symptoms. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp 2015;30:249-54
5. Garriga M, Pacchiarotti I, Kasper S et al. Assessment and management of agitation in psychiatry: Expert consensus. World J Biol Psychiatry 2016;17(2):86-128
6. Naumann U et al. Der psychiatrische Notfall – Behandlung von Psychosen im Notarztdienst und in Notaufnahmen. Anästhesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 2012;47:382-90
7. Waszkiewicz N, Szajda SD, Konarzewska B et al. Dopalacze jako problem społeczny. W: Profilaktyka chorób cywilizacyjnych. Łomża, Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa Ochrony Zdrowia TWP 2015;53-75
8. Wilczyńska K, Waszkiewicz N. Narkotyki a wykluczenie społeczne. W: Wybrane prawne, kryminologiczne i medyczne aspekty wykluczenia społecznego. Białystok, Temida 2, 2016;347-75
9. Abdulrahim D, Bowden-Jones O. On behalf of the NEPTUNE Expert Group. Guidance on the Management of Acute and Chronic Harms of Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances. Novel Psychoactive Treatment UK Network (NEPTUNE). London 2015