[Evaluation by poison control centers of minaprine from the modification of tablet dosages]. / Evaluation par les centres anti-poisons de la toxicité de la minaprine depuis la modification de dosage des comprimés.

By 1990, the Clin Midy (SANOFI) laboratory had modified the dose of Cantor tablets: the content of active drug (minaprine) increased (50 to 100 mg). Therefore, acute intoxication by minaprine can be serious, with generalized seizures, resisting the classic treatment. We tried to evaluate the possible consequences of this change of dose for the gravity of suicide attempts. 1091 voluntary acute intoxications have been collected by the national French Poisons Centres data bank, 226 of them by the Poisons center of Marseilles. We have compared, by the chi 2 method, the frequencies of seizure and death, before and after 1990. Results are significant, confirming an increased gravity of these intoxications since the modification of dosage. Then, the laboratory reduced the number of tablets per box. We don't know if this measure will be efficient.

[Accidental ingestion of paracetamol in the for of the pediatric syrup EFFERALGAN: case studies during the six months following the institution of the child-proof top]. / Ingestions accidentelles de paracétamol sous la forme de sirop EFFERALGAN pédiatrique: étude des observations au cours des six mois qui ont suivi la mise en place d'un bouchon de sécurité.

During the 6 months following the child-proof top commercialisation for the paediatric syrup EFFERALGAN in France, 51 cases of accidental ingestion were collected by the Marseilles Poison Centre. For 21 pour cent of them, the alleged dose taken was greater than the toxic dose. For 2 cases only, the responsible bottle had a child-proof top and was open on the table. For all other cases, it was simple-opening bottles (old bottles still present in houses, or bottles without a special top but sold in order to get rid of stocks). This study proves that such a preventive measure (modification of the top of the syrup bottles) is only fully effective if additional measures are undertaken such as return of unsold stocks or the provision of information to pharmacists and physicians.

[Accidental ingestions of paracetamol in the form of EFFERALGAN pediatric syrup: experience of the Marseille Anti-poison Center during 1998]. / Ingestions accidentelles de paracétamol sous la forme de sirop EFFERALGAN pédiatrique: expérience du Centre Antipoison de Marseille au cours de l'année 1998.

In 1998, 77 cases of accidental ingestion of paracetamol paediatric syrup (Efferalgan) in children were notified to the Marseille Poison Centre. In a quarter of them, the alleged dose taken was greater than the toxic dose. Ingestion was mainly due to the child opening the bottle. The proximate marketing of a product with a child-proof top, which should allow the number of accidents to be reduced. Doctors and pharmacists should be informed rapidly, so that they can warn the families who still have the old type of bottle.