Co-proxamol withdrawal has reduced suicide from drugs in Scotland.
OBJECTIVE
To determine what effect the withdrawal of co-proxamol from the UK market has had on mortality from poisoning in Scotland.


METHODS
This was a retrospective, observational study of mortality relating to poisoning by single agents in Scotland for the period 2000-2006. Mortality data were obtained from the General Register Office Scotland, and primary care prescribing data from the Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Executive Health Department.


RESULTS
A significant reduction in the proportion of poisoning deaths due to co-proxamol was observed following legislation [mean 2000-2004, 37 deaths (21.8% of total poisoning deaths); 2006, 10 (7.8%); P < 0.0001]. The most significant reduction was seen in male out-of-hospital deaths [mean 2000-2004, 17 (21.8%); 2006, two (2.9%); P < 0.0001]. This was associated with a decline in prescriptions by 60% within 6 months of legislation. The total number of poisoning deaths also fell, slightly earlier than the full impact on co-proxamol deaths (mean 2000-2004, 171.2; mean 2005-2006, 129.5; P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Legislation has resulted in a major reduction in the number of deaths associated with co-proxamol poisoning in Scotland, with no compensatory rise in mortality from poisonings from other common analgesics. We estimate from this study that a minimum of 300 lives across the UK will have been saved by the withdrawal of co-proxamol.
Sandilands
Euan A
EA
NPIS Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. euan.sandilands@luht.scot.nhs.uk
Bateman
D Nicolas
DN
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000639:trends*
D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000082:Acetaminophen; C011800:acetaminophen, dextropropoxyphene, drug combination; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene