Background
"Bath salts" are the latest designer drugs sending patients to the emergency department (ED). Unlike traditional bath salts that are added to bath water for a relaxing soak, these drugs, which can be ingested, inhaled, or injected, contain cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) stimulants such as 3,4 –methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or 4-methylmethcarhinone (mephedrone). The drugs were initially sold over-the-counter under a number of different names. Patients using the drugs present to the ED with signs of acute stimulant overdose. This article from the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report details the epidemiology of cases of "bath salt" poisoning presenting to EDs in the state of Michigan from November 2010 to March 2011.[1]
AccessMedicine from McGraw-Hill © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies
All rights reserved. From Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine
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