Parenteral pentazocine abuse leading to cutaneous ulcers and anaemia: a case report

Abstract

Pentazocine, introduced to clinical practice in the 1960s, was a product of research aimed at developing an effective analgesic for moderate to severe pain relief with little or no abuse potential like morphine. However, its addictive potential was recognized sooner than imagined. In spite of this, it is still used widely in resource-poor countries. In Nigeria, little documented reports exist on the abuse of pentazocine among patients who received pentazocine as part of their treatment during their presentation to healthcare facilities. This case report therefore attempts to raise awareness on the addictive potential (and its associated problems) of prolonged pentazocine use as an analgesic in patients with fracture and postoperative pain and secondly to stimulate the need for measures that would help in prevention or reduction of pentazocine dependence.
In this case report, the patient was exposed to the use of pentazocine subsequent to an episode of valid medical indication for the drug (fracture and moderate postoperative pain). It is however worthy of note that the use of pentazocine was unduly prolonged (at least two months) in this patient. Other than drug dependence, the complications noted in this patient included chronic ulcers, anaemia, neglect of self-care and hallucinatory experiences.