[Amineptin abuse. Analysis of 155 cases. An evaluation of the official cooperative survey of the Regional Centers of Pharmacovigilance].

One hundred and eighty six cases of amineptine abuse were reported to the Regional Centres of Pharmacovigilance or to the Laboratory Eutherapie during a ten year period, between 1978 and february 1988. The analysis was carried out on 155 cases. The principal characteristics of overconsumption are: a predominance of females; the existence of risk factors in 2 out of 3 cases; the absence of correlations between the prescribed dosage, the duration and the importance of abuse; the constant search of a psychostimulant effect; a good clinical acceptability in most cases, but the risk of acne and psychic disturbances must be emphasized; withdrawal difficulties, obtained in only 48 patients (for at least one month). Psychic symptoms on withdrawal were variable and it was not possible to identify a syndrome. The risk of abuse seems to be rare, nevertheless, one must know this occurrence and respect the recommanded dosage. In patients with certain psychiatric illnesses, and especially in patients with risks factors, drugs with stimulant properties should be prescribed with caution.