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Acute intoxication with orphenadrine and clozapine
1Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Forensic Science International
|December 4, 2001
Summary
A fatal intoxication case involving clozapine and orphenadrine was reported. High concentrations of both drugs in biological samples confirmed their role in the death of a 38-year-old male patient.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia treatment.
- Orphenadrine is a muscle relaxant and antihistamine.
- Co-ingestion of these drugs can pose significant risks.
Observation:
- A 38-year-old male was found deceased in his residence.
- Empty pharmaceutical packaging for clozapine and orphenadrine was present.
- Toxicological analysis revealed high concentrations of both drugs in blood, urine, and gastric contents.
Findings:
- The combined presence of high clozapine and orphenadrine levels was determined to be the cause of death.
- Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was utilized for accurate identification and quantification.
- Liquid-liquid extraction preceded GC/MS analysis for sample preparation.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for fatal outcomes from combined clozapine and orphenadrine intoxication.
- Accurate toxicological analysis is crucial in post-mortem investigations.
- Awareness of drug interactions and overdose risks is vital for patient safety.