Pentazocine Misuse among Sickle Cell Disease Patients and The Role of Lack of Enforcement of Opioid Dispensing Regulations by Community Pharmacies: A Descriptive Observational Study

Table 2

Participants’ details on pentazocine abuse.

	Frequency	Percentage
Duration of self-pentazocine use (years)
<1	1	4.8
1-2	5	23.8
>2	15	71.4
Frequency of pentazocine use
Daily	11	52.3
At least once/week	3	14.2
At least once/month	4	19.0
Only during painful crises	3	14.2
Usual dose per time (milligram)
30–60 mg	2	9.5
90–150 mg	16	76.1
>150 mg	3	14.2
Dose increment with time	20	95.2
First knowledge of self-use
Fellow SCD friend taught me	4	19.0
At home by a nearby health worker/parent	9	42.8
During hospital admission for pain crisis	1	4.7
Treatment from pharmacy/chemist shop	7	33.3
Procurement of pentazocine
Home delivery	4	19.0
Open market	2	9.5
Chemist/patient medicine shops	3	14.2
Community pharmacy outlets	12	57.1
Requires prescription	2	9.5
Route of administration
Intravenous	2	9.5
Intramuscular	19	90.5
Injection sites
Buttocks	15	71.4
Thigh	7	33.3
Arm	5	23.8
Reuses/shares needles	4	19.0
Complications of pentazocine use
Chronic ulcers	7	33.3
Healed scars	2	9.5
Abscess	9	42.8
Disabilities	2	9.5
Ankylosis	2	9.5
Leg swelling/induration	5	23.8
Sedation	5	23.8

Multiple answers.