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First European case of convulsions related to analytically confirmed use of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist AM-2201

  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

There is increasing reported use of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA) across Europe. To date, there is limited information on the acute toxicity (harm) related to the use of these products. We describe here a case in which an individual developed convulsions related to the use of the SCRA AM-2201.

Case report

A 20 year old male smoked a "Spice" (SCRA-containing) product called “Black Mamba,” and rapidly after smoking, he had a generalised self-terminating tonic-clonic convulsion. After a 2 h observation period in the Emergency Department (ED), he self-discharged against medical advice. Subsequent analysis of urine collected at the time of presentation to the ED detected metabolites of AM-2201; no other drugs were detected on extensive analytic screening.

Discussion

This is the first case of convulsions related to the use of SCRA described in Europe, and the first case of convulsions related to the use the SCRA AM-2201 confirmed by analysis of biological samples. It is important for emergency physicians, clinical toxicologists and clinical pharmacologists managing those presenting with acute toxicity related to the use of SCRA to analytically confirm the exact compound(s) involved, to enable accurate description of the acute toxicity associated with individual SCRA.

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Conflicts of interest

D.M.W. and P.I.D. have acted as scientific advisors to the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Abuse (EMCDDA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emergency Department, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    David McQuade

  2. HFL Sport Science, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK

    Simon Hudson

  3. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s Health Partners, London, UK

    Paul I. Dargan & David M. Wood

  4. King’s College London, London, UK

    Paul I. Dargan & David M. Wood

  5. Clinical Toxicology, St Thomas’ Hospital, 3rd Floor, Block C, South Wing, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    David M. Wood

Authors
  1. David McQuade
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  2. Simon Hudson
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  3. Paul I. Dargan
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  4. David M. Wood
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Correspondence to David M. Wood.

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McQuade, D., Hudson, S., Dargan, P.I. et al. First European case of convulsions related to analytically confirmed use of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist AM-2201. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 69, 373–376 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-012-1379-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-012-1379-2

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