Deliberate Self-Poisoning: Real-Time Characterization of Suicidal Habits and Toxidromes in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System

• DOI: 10.1007/s40264-022-01269-x
• Publication Date: 2023-01-23T10:03:01Z
• Authors: Michele Fusaroli; Guido Pelletti; Valentina Giunchi; Chiara Pugliese; Mattia Bartolucci; Elena Narmine Necibi; Emanuel Raschi; Fabrizio De Ponti; Susi Pelotti; Elisabetta Poluzzi
• Keywords: Male; Analgesics; United States Food and Drug Administration; Deliberate self poisoning; FAERS; suicide; drugs safety; Reproducibility of Results; Suicide, Attempted; United States; 3. Good health; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Original Research Article; Acetaminophen

Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) using drugs is the preferred method of suicide at a global level. Its investigation hampered by limited sample sizes and data reliability. We investigate role US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), consolidated pharmacovigilance database, in outlining DSP habits toxidromes.We retrieved cases 'intentional overdose' 'poisoning deliberate' from FAERS (January 2004-December 2021). Using descriptive disproportionality analyses, we estimated temporal trends, potential risk factors, toxidromes, case-fatality rates lethal doses (LDs) for most frequently reported drugs.We 42,103 (17% fatal). Most were submitted winter. Reports involved younger people, psychiatric conditions, alcohol use, compared with non-DSP, fatality was higher men older patients. Suspected mainly antidepressants, analgesics, antipsychotics. Multiple drug intake recorded more than 50% reports, especially psychotropics, cardiovascular agents. The paracetamol, promethazine, amlodipine, quetiapine, metformin. LD25 paracetamol (150 g).Worldwide coverage complements existing knowledge about may drive tailored prevention measures to timely address phenomenon prevent intentional suicides.