Drug-related female autointoxication registered at a toxicology care center

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the data on epidemiological records of autointoxication reports registered at a toxicological assistance center. Methods: Exploratory, descriptive, and retrospective study with the analysis of secondary data, conducted from the audit on Toxicological Occurrence Notification and Attendance forms, referring to the period from 2014 to 2018, filed in a toxicological information and assistance center, located in a municipality in southern Brazil. The data obtained were compiled in spreadsheets and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Results: 2,942 epidemiological records on women's autointoxication were audited, 72.0% of the total cases in the period studied. The predominant age group was 18 to 29 years old, with 1697 (57.7%) cases. The main toxic agent was medication, and the only agent of intoxication in 2,358 cases (80.1%). Psychotropic drugs accounted for 55.2% (1,593) of the cases, mainly antiepileptic and psychoanalytic drugs. Clonazepam was present in 567 (35.6%) suicide attempts and as the sole agent in 275 (17.3%) of them. In 873 cases (54.8%), mental illness was reported, in 546 (34.3%) previous suicide attempts, and 1,082 (67.9%) continued use of psychotropic medication. The main outcome was hospital discharge in 1,239 cases (77.8%). Conclusion: The study showed an increase in cases of female autointoxication over the period studied. The high percentage of autointoxication with psychotropic medications may be related to the ease of access at home and society's medicalization.