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| Title: | Medications taken daily and prior to diving by experienced scuba divers. |
| Authors: | Taylor, S
Taylor, DMcD
O’Toole, KS
Ryan, CM |
| Keywords: | Hyperbaric Conditions
DRUG
Drug Utilization
Medication
pharmacodynamics
fitness to dive
medical history
DIVERS
prescription
Questionnaires |
| Issue Date: | 2002 |
| Publisher: | South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society |
| Citation: | SPUMS 2002 Volume 32 Number 3. |
| Abstract: | Introduction: Medication pharmacodynamics may be altered in the hyperbaric environment, yet little research has examined medications taken by divers. We aimed to determine the nature and extent of chronic and acute medication use amongst experienced scuba divers. Method: Crosssectional postal survey of Australian and United States (US) scuba diving club members. Results: 709 divers responded (Australian 346, US 363). The majority were professionals (54.9%), aged 31–50 years (59.9%), and experienced divers (median years of diving: 8). A variety of prescription and over the counter medications were taken daily. Many were for cardiac disease or hypertension (8.9% of divers) and asthma (2.8%). Some respondents regularly took antiepileptic agents (0.3%), oral hypoglycaemics (0.4%) or insulin (0.3%). Divers frequently took medications within two hours of diving. These usually targeted sea sickness and barotrauma. Pseudoephedrine (p < 0.001) and nasal decongestants (p < 0.001) were taken significantly more frequently by US divers. Fewer divers took antihistamines, and those taken largely reflected availability. Discussion: Many experienced divers take a variety of medications for chronic conditions. This may reflect adversely upon their fitness to dive. Research should examine the effects of commonly used medications in the hyperbaric environment. Our findings identify those medications that should be targeted. |
| Description: | Journal of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society. |
| URI: | http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7684 |
| ISSN: | 0813-1988 |
| Appears in Collections: | South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal
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Files in This Item:
| File |
Description |
Size | Format |
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| SPUMS_V32N3_4.pdf | | 154Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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