Aims: Pharmaceutical poisonings may result in severe morbidity and mortality. Analysis of patients with pharmaceutical poisoning is important for a better medical management. This study aimed at the epidemiological analysis of the patients diagnosed with pharmaceutical poisonings over 18 years old. Materials and methods: Total 1507 patients who admitted to Emergency Department of Adana Numune Education and Research Hospital in Southern Turkey, which is working as regional poisoning centre hospital, between December, 1 2009 and December 31 2010 with pharmaceutical poisoning were included in this study. Results: Most of the patients were women between the ages of 18-30, committed suicide, by multiple drug ingestion. Antidepressant drug intake in female patients, and caustic substances, rodenticide, organophosphate, narcotic drugs in male patients were statistically significantly higher than the other gender of drugs. We determined that 12.7% of the patients who were referred from other medical institutions did not have the basic important treatments, such as early gastric lavage and administration of activated charcoal. Most of the patients were discharged in good general conditions after treatment. There was no mortality in our emergency department. Discussion and conclusion: In order to minimize the poisonings, patients and society should be educated, pharmaceuticals should not be sold without a prescription and the presence of the agricultural insecticide and chemicals at home should be avoided. Also standard treatment approach protocols should be applied in all hospitals to reduce mortality and morbidity
