Biomaterial Database

Use of transdermal nicotine systems in a possible suicide attempt. 1994

N Montalto, and C C Brackett, and T Sobol

Department of Family Medicine, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.

BACKGROUND Transdermal drug delivery systems, a relatively recent development, are well accepted by physicians and patients because of reliability and ease of administration. The patch reservoirs, however, contain large quantities of drug, and the potential for considerable toxicity exists if they are used incorrectly. A case is presented of an apparent suicide attempt that involved the use of nicotine transdermal patches. METHODS This case report involved a patient seen in the emergency department by one of the authors. Data were obtained from the patient's medical record while maintaining confidentiality. RESULTS The drug overdose was a potentially serious one. The patient recovered fully after an uneventful hospital course. CONCLUSIONS Transdermal drug delivery systems now deliver many drugs, several of which are quite potent. Intentional or unintentional misuse of the systems can result in toxicity. The physician and pharmacist should carefully instruct each patient in the appropriate use and handling of transdermal drug delivery systems.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000279	Administration, Cutaneous	The application of suitable drug dosage forms to the skin for either local or systemic effects.	Cutaneous Drug Administration,Dermal Drug Administration,Drug Administration, Dermal,Percutaneous Administration,Skin Drug Administration,Transcutaneous Administration,Transdermal Administration,Administration, Dermal,Administration, Transcutaneous,Administration, Transdermal,Cutaneous Administration,Cutaneous Administration, Drug,Dermal Administration,Drug Administration, Cutaneous,Skin Administration, Drug,Administration, Cutaneous Drug,Administration, Dermal Drug,Administration, Percutaneous,Administrations, Cutaneous,Administrations, Cutaneous Drug,Administrations, Dermal,Administrations, Dermal Drug,Administrations, Percutaneous,Administrations, Transcutaneous,Administrations, Transdermal,Cutaneous Administrations,Cutaneous Administrations, Drug,Cutaneous Drug Administrations,Dermal Administrations,Dermal Drug Administrations,Drug Administrations, Cutaneous,Drug Administrations, Dermal,Drug Skin Administrations,Percutaneous Administrations,Skin Administrations, Drug,Skin Drug Administrations,Transcutaneous Administrations,Transdermal Administrations
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D013406	Suicide, Attempted	The unsuccessful attempt to kill oneself.	Parasuicide,Suicide Attempt,Attempt, Suicide,Attempted Suicide,Parasuicides