Co-proxamol and suicide: a study of national mortality statistics and local non-fatal self poisonings. Issue 7397 (10th May 2003)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hawton, Keith; Simkin, Sue; Deeks, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 326:Issue 7397(2003)
• Page Start: 1006
• Page End: 1008
• Publication Date: 2003-05-10
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.326.7397.1006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To examine the incidence of suicides due to co-proxamol compared with tricyclic antidepressants and paracetamol, and to compare fatality rates for self poisonings with these drugs. Design: Analysis of routinely collected national and local data on suicides and self poisonings. Setting: Records of suicides in England and Wales 1997-9; non-fatal self poisonings in Oxford District 1997-9. Data sources: Office for National Statistics and Oxford monitoring system for attempted suicide. Main outcome measures: Incidence of suicides with co-proxamol or tricyclic antidepressants or paracetamol. Ratios of fatal to non-fatal self poisonings. Results: Co-proxamol alone accounted for 5% of all suicides. Of 4162 drug related suicides, 18% (766) involved co-proxamol alone, 22% (927) tricyclic antidepressants alone, and 9% (368) paracetamol alone. A higher proportion of suicides in the 10-24 year age group were due to co-proxamol than in the other age groups. The odds of dying after overdose with co-proxamol was 2.3 times (95% confidence interval 2.1 to 2.5) that for tricyclic antidepressants and 28.1 times (24.9 to 32.9) that for paracetamol. Conclusions: Self poisoning with co-proxamol is particularly dangerous and contributes substantially to drug related suicides. Restricting availability of co-proxamol could have an important role in suicide prevention.