Toxicities associated with NBOMe ingestion-a novel class of potent hallucinogens: a review of the literature.
Joji Suzuki, Michael A Dekker, Erin S Valenti, Fabiola A Arbelo Cruz, Ady M Correa, Justin L. Poklis, Alphonse Poklis
Psychosomatics 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2014.11.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Patients with analytically confirmed NBOMe ingestion |
| Key findings | NBOMe ingestion is associated with severe adverse effects including agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, seizures, and fatalities. |
Abstract
A new class of synthetic hallucinogens called NBOMe has emerged as drugs of abuse. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of published reports of toxicities associated with NBOMe ingestion. We searched PubMed for relevant English-language citations that described adverse effects from analytically confirmed human NBOMe ingestion. Demographic and clinical data were extracted. A total of 10 citations met the criteria for inclusion, representing 20 individual patients. 25I-NBOMe was the most common analogue identified, followed by 25B-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe. Fatalities were reported in 3 (15%) cases. Of all the patients, 7 (35%) were discharged after a period of observation, whereas 8 (40.0%) required admission to an intensive care unit. The most common adverse effects were agitation (85.0%), tachycardia (85.0%), and hypertension (65.0%). Seizures were reported in 8 (40.0%) patients. The most common abnormalities reported on laboratory tests were elevated level of creatinine kinase (45.0%), leukocytosis (25.0%), and hyperglycemia (20.0%). NBOMe ingestion is associated with severe adverse effects. Clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion for NBOMe ingestion in patients reporting the recent use of hallucinogens.