Antihistamine-related deaths in England:   Are the high safety profiles of antihistamines leading to their unsafe use?

Princess J. Oyekan; Hayley C. Gorton; Caroline S. Copeland

doi:10.1111/bcp.14819

Antihistamine-related deaths in England: Are the high safety profiles of antihistamines leading to their unsafe use?

Princess J. Oyekan, Hayley C. Gorton, Caroline S. Copeland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Aims: Antihistamines are routinely taken to control allergic reactions or sedation to induce sleep. There are, however, growing concerns regarding sedating antihistamine misuse. This research aims to evaluate deaths related to antihistamines in England occurring during 2000–2019. Methods: Cases reported to the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths from England occurring in 2000–2019 with antihistamine detections at postmortem were extracted for analysis. Results: In total, 1666 antihistamine postmortem detections were identified from 1537 cases. Sedating antihistamines available for purchase under pharmacist supervision but without need for a prescription (pharmacy-only medications) were present in a significant majority of cases (85.2%, P

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3978-3987
Number of pages	10
Journal	British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Volume	87
Issue number	10
Early online date	31 Mar 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.14819
Publication status	Published - 23 Sept 2021

Keywords

Antihistamine
Drug-related death
England
Polypharmacy
Postmortem
Substance misuse
drug-related death
postmortem
substance misuse
antihistamine
polypharmacy

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10.1111/bcp.14819

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title = "Antihistamine-related deaths in England: Are the high safety profiles of antihistamines leading to their unsafe use?",

abstract = "Aims: Antihistamines are routinely taken to control allergic reactions or sedation to induce sleep. There are, however, growing concerns regarding sedating antihistamine misuse. This research aims to evaluate deaths related to antihistamines in England occurring during 2000–2019. Methods: Cases reported to the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths from England occurring in 2000–2019 with antihistamine detections at postmortem were extracted for analysis. Results: In total, 1666 antihistamine postmortem detections were identified from 1537 cases. Sedating antihistamines available for purchase under pharmacist supervision but without need for a prescription (pharmacy-only medications) were present in a significant majority of cases (85.2%, P ",

keywords = "Antihistamine, Drug-related death, England, Polypharmacy, Postmortem, Substance misuse, drug-related death, postmortem, substance misuse, antihistamine, polypharmacy",

author = "Oyekan, {Princess J.} and Gorton, {Hayley C.} and Copeland, {Caroline S.}",

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doi = "10.1111/bcp.14819",

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journal = "British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology",

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T1 - Antihistamine-related deaths in England

T2 - Are the high safety profiles of antihistamines leading to their unsafe use?

AU - Oyekan, Princess J.

AU - Gorton, Hayley C.

AU - Copeland, Caroline S.

PY - 2021/9/23

Y1 - 2021/9/23

N2 - Aims: Antihistamines are routinely taken to control allergic reactions or sedation to induce sleep. There are, however, growing concerns regarding sedating antihistamine misuse. This research aims to evaluate deaths related to antihistamines in England occurring during 2000–2019. Methods: Cases reported to the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths from England occurring in 2000–2019 with antihistamine detections at postmortem were extracted for analysis. Results: In total, 1666 antihistamine postmortem detections were identified from 1537 cases. Sedating antihistamines available for purchase under pharmacist supervision but without need for a prescription (pharmacy-only medications) were present in a significant majority of cases (85.2%, P

AB - Aims: Antihistamines are routinely taken to control allergic reactions or sedation to induce sleep. There are, however, growing concerns regarding sedating antihistamine misuse. This research aims to evaluate deaths related to antihistamines in England occurring during 2000–2019. Methods: Cases reported to the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths from England occurring in 2000–2019 with antihistamine detections at postmortem were extracted for analysis. Results: In total, 1666 antihistamine postmortem detections were identified from 1537 cases. Sedating antihistamines available for purchase under pharmacist supervision but without need for a prescription (pharmacy-only medications) were present in a significant majority of cases (85.2%, P

KW - Antihistamine

KW - Drug-related death

KW - England

KW - Polypharmacy

KW - Postmortem

KW - Substance misuse

KW - drug-related death

KW - postmortem

KW - substance misuse

KW - antihistamine

KW - polypharmacy

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JO - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

JF - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

IS - 10

ER -

Antihistamine-related deaths in England: Are the high safety profiles of antihistamines leading to their unsafe use?

Abstract

Keywords

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