Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review
Recently, a range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been reportedly used as Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), due to their potential for abuse resulting from their high dosage/idiosyncratic methods of self-administration. This paper provides a systematic review of the topic, focusin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/4/73 |
| _version_ | 1819209530731397120 |
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| author | Fabrizio Schifano Stefania Chiappini John M. Corkery Amira Guirguis |
| author_facet | Fabrizio Schifano Stefania Chiappini John M. Corkery Amira Guirguis |
| author_sort | Fabrizio Schifano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, a range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been reportedly used as Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), due to their potential for abuse resulting from their high dosage/idiosyncratic methods of self-administration. This paper provides a systematic review of the topic, focusing on a range of medications which have emerged as being used recreationally, either on their own or in combination with NPS. Among gabapentinoids, pregabalin may present with higher addictive liability levels than gabapentin, with pregabalin being mostly identified in the context of opioid, polydrug intake. For antidepressants, their dopaminergic, stimulant-like, bupropion activities may explain their recreational value and diversion from the therapeutic intended use. In some vulnerable clients, a high dosage of venlafaxine (‘baby ecstasy’) is ingested for recreational purposes, whilst the occurrence of a clinically-relevant withdrawal syndrome may be a significant issue for all venlafaxine-treated patients. Considering second generation antipsychotics, olanzapine appears to be ingested at very large dosages as an ‘ideal trip terminator’, whilst the immediate-release quetiapine formulation may possess proper abuse liability levels. Within the image- and performance- enhancing drugs (IPEDs) group, the beta-2 agonist clenbuterol (‘size zero pill’) is reported to be self-administered for aggressive slimming purposes. Finally, high/very high dosage ingestion of the antidiarrhoeal loperamide has shown recent increasing levels of popularity due to its central recreational, anti-withdrawal, opiatergic effects. The emerging abuse of prescription drugs within the context of a rapidly modifying drug scenario represents a challenge for psychiatry, public health and drug-control policies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:56:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd337cad60894c14a18e05fc3f998782 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:56:45Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd337cad60894c14a18e05fc3f9987822022-12-21T17:57:47ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252018-04-01847310.3390/brainsci8040073brainsci8040073Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic ReviewFabrizio Schifano0Stefania Chiappini1John M. Corkery2Amira Guirguis3Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UKPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UKPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UKPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UKRecently, a range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been reportedly used as Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), due to their potential for abuse resulting from their high dosage/idiosyncratic methods of self-administration. This paper provides a systematic review of the topic, focusing on a range of medications which have emerged as being used recreationally, either on their own or in combination with NPS. Among gabapentinoids, pregabalin may present with higher addictive liability levels than gabapentin, with pregabalin being mostly identified in the context of opioid, polydrug intake. For antidepressants, their dopaminergic, stimulant-like, bupropion activities may explain their recreational value and diversion from the therapeutic intended use. In some vulnerable clients, a high dosage of venlafaxine (‘baby ecstasy’) is ingested for recreational purposes, whilst the occurrence of a clinically-relevant withdrawal syndrome may be a significant issue for all venlafaxine-treated patients. Considering second generation antipsychotics, olanzapine appears to be ingested at very large dosages as an ‘ideal trip terminator’, whilst the immediate-release quetiapine formulation may possess proper abuse liability levels. Within the image- and performance- enhancing drugs (IPEDs) group, the beta-2 agonist clenbuterol (‘size zero pill’) is reported to be self-administered for aggressive slimming purposes. Finally, high/very high dosage ingestion of the antidiarrhoeal loperamide has shown recent increasing levels of popularity due to its central recreational, anti-withdrawal, opiatergic effects. The emerging abuse of prescription drugs within the context of a rapidly modifying drug scenario represents a challenge for psychiatry, public health and drug-control policies.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/4/73drug abusenovel psychoactive substancesNPSpharmacovigilanceprescribing drugs’ abuse |
| spellingShingle | Fabrizio Schifano Stefania Chiappini John M. Corkery Amira Guirguis Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review Brain Sciences drug abuse novel psychoactive substances NPS pharmacovigilance prescribing drugs’ abuse |
| title | Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the Context of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | abuse of prescription drugs in the context of novel psychoactive substances nps a systematic review |
| topic | drug abuse novel psychoactive substances NPS pharmacovigilance prescribing drugs’ abuse |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/4/73 |
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