CODES.AND.STUFF

Q.    What is the correct ICD-10 code to assign for a patient who is admitted following an accidental overdose of Mephedrone?

A.    Mephedrone is described as a chemical stimulant closely related to the ‘Cathinone’    group    of    drugs    which    include    Methcathinone, Methylenedioxyamphetamine and amphetamine compounds such as MDMA and ecstasy.

Mephedrone is also known by a variety of names such as MCAT, MEOW-MEOW and 4- MMC. This drug is believed to be derived from the Eastern African Khat plant. Its use has become widespread as the latest ‘party drug’, and the government has recently made this substance illegal. Although Mephedrone is advertised and sold on the internet as ‘plant food’ or ‘bath salts,’ there is no evidence that this substance was created or is used for either of these purposes.

The drug Mephedrone can be considered as a ‘psychostimulant’, and the correct ICD-10 codes to assign for an ‘accidental’ poisoning from this drug are:

T43.6 Psychostimulants with abuse potential

X41.- Accidental poisoning by and exposure to antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, antiparkinsonism and psychotropic drugs, not elsewhere classified

However, if the patient is described by the clinician as having ‘acute intoxication’ from taking Mephedrone, then the correct ICD-10 code to assign are:

F15.0 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of other stimulants, including caffeine, acute intoxication

Date published: 10/2010 (Volume 7 Issue 5)

Coding Clinic, NHS Classifications Service

www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/codingclinic

Tags: drugs, mental and behavioural, poisoning, substance abuse