Two deaths from intravenous nifedipine abuse

An incident is reported in which 2 intravenous drug abusers died as the result of uncontrolled experimentation with intravenous injection of the common anti-hypertensive and anti-anginal drug Nifedipine (Adalat t.m. Bayer), probably in mistake for the commonly abused short-acting benzodiazepine drug Temazepam. Large quantities of Nifedipine were identified in the blood of both decreased men by gas chromatography. Apart from intense gastric mucosal congestion, pulmonary oedema and general visceral congestion, the autopsy findings were entirely nonspecific. The similarity in colour, shape and texture between capsules of Nifedipine and those of Temazepam is likely to have prompted the mistake.