Table 2.
Clinical features reported with exposure to mephedrone alone or in combination with alcohol as reported in telephone enquiries (n=131) or uploaded to TOXBASE (n=18)
| Telephone enquiries | TOXBASE reports | |||
| n | % (95% CI) | n | % (95% CI) | |
| Route of exposure | ||||
| Ingestion | 69 | 53 (44 to 61) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Insufflation | 42 | 32 (24 to 41) | 5 | 28 (11 to 54) |
| Parenteral | 2 | 2 (0 to 6) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Other/multiple | 2 | 2 (0 to 6) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Not known | 16 | 12 (5 to 16) | 9 | 50 (26 to 73) |
| Clinical features | ||||
| Agitation, aggression | 32 | 24 (18 to 33) | 9 | 50 (26 to 73) |
| Tachycardia | 29 | 22 (16 to 30) | 7 | 39 (18 to 64) |
| Anxiety | 19 | 15 (9 to 22) | 3 | 17 (4 to 42) |
| Confusion, psychosis | 18 | 14 (9 to 21) | 3 | 17 (4 to 42) |
| Chest pain | 17 | 13 (8 to 20) | 5 | 28 (11 to 54) |
| No features | 17 | 13 (8 to 20) | 3 | 17 (4 to 42) |
| Nausea | 15 | 11 (7 to 18) | 4 | 22 (7 to 48) |
| Palpitations | 14 | 11 (6 to 18) | 5 | 28 (11 to 54) |
| Fever, sweating | 12 | 9 (5 to 16) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Breathlessness | 11 | 8 (4 to 15) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Dizziness | 10 | 8 (4 to 14) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Peripheral vasoconstriction | 10 | 8 (4 to 14) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |
| Mydriasis | 9 | 7 (3 to 13) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Skin changes, rash | 9 | 7 (3 to 13) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |
| Headache | 7 | 5 (2 to 11) | 3 | 17 (4 to 42) |
| Reduced level of consciousness | 7 | 5 (2 to 11) | 4 | 22 (7 to 48) |
| Abdominal pain | 6 | 5 (2 to 10) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Hypertension | 5 | 4 (1 to 9) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Parasthesiae | 5 | 4 (1 to 9) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Insomnia | 5 | 4 (1 to 9) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Convulsions | 4 | 3 (1 to 8) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Loin pain | 4 | 3 (1 to 8) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |
| Tongue disorder | 4 | 3 (1 to 8) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Myoclonus/abnormal movements | 3 | 2 (1 to 7) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| Tremor | 3 | 2 (1 to 7) | 2 | 11 (2 to 36) |
| ECG abnormal | 3 | 2 (1 to 7) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Local effects (mouth/pharynx) | 3 | 2 (1 to 7) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Dystonic reaction | 2 | 2 (1 to 7) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Abnormal vision | 2 | 2 (1 to 7) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |
| Liver function tests abnormal | 2 | 2 (1 to 7) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Raised creatine kinase | 1 | 1 (0 to 4) | 3 | 17 (4 to 42) |
| Acidosis | 1 | 1 (0 to 4) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |
| Epistaxis | 1 | 1 (0 to 4) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |
| Renal function abnormal | 1 | 1 (0 to 4) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Death | 1 | 1 (0 to 4) | 0 | 0 (0 to 22) |
| Persistence of symptoms after exposure | ||||
| >24 h | 59 | 45 (36 to 54) | 4 | 22 (7 to 48) |
| >48 h | 39 | 30 (22 to 38) | 1 | 6 (3 to 29) |