Accidental Ingestion of a Novel Psychoactive Substance: A Case Report

Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are a new generation of designer drugs that are quickly replacing the traditionally abused street drugs. Since their development, the number of molecules in NPSs and their variants have expanded exponentially. Little is known locally about the toxic effects of the exposure of these NPSs. We report two cases of accidental ingestion of methyl (2S)-2-{[1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indole-3-arbonyl]amino}-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (5-fluoro-MDMB-PICA), a recent NPS. They were drinking the liquid in a winter melon tea bottle, and one patient had a seizure episode directly after ingestion. Both patients were managed supportively and discharged after a brief hospitalization period. Presentation to the emergency departments (EDs) following exposure to NPSs may become more common. Knowledge about the impact of NPS exposure and their clinical effects is lacking amongst emergency physicians in Singapore, and this case report serves as a potential resource for physicians.