title: [Analysis of online reports on the potential misuse of benzidamine].
abstract: Benzydamine/Tantum Rosa is a drug for external use. It is typically available in Europe, without the need of a medical prescription, for the treatment of vaginal inflammatory processes. Between December 2009 and January 2010, the Milan and Pavia (I) Poison Centres have identified some 50 cases of inappropriate benzydamine ingestion. Reasons for this misuse have been attributed to an allegedly misleading television advert. However, the recreational misuse of benzydamine is a well-known phenomenon in Brazil and in some EU countries as well, notably in Poland and Romania. It is here suggested that the recent increase in benzydamine misuse reports in Italy may well be associated with a parallel increase in level of online information regarding the molecule potential for misuse. According to the online reports, benzydamine is typically taken at a dosage of 1-4 sachets, dissolved in water and ingested orally. Its intake may be associated with hallucinations (mostly visual), sleeping disorders and euphoria. Only future, prospective, studies will confirm and better describe the benzydamine misuse potential.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom. f.schifano@herts.ac.uk
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schifano
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corazza
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.forename: Giuditta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Melchiorre
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sferrazza
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enea
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Blaszko
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deluca
mesh_terms: D001591:Benzydamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001591:Benzydamine