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High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Fatal bupropion overdose with post mortem blood concentrations.
Henry A Spiller1, Edward Bottei, Linda Kalin
1Kentucky Regional Poison Center, P.O. Box 35070, Louisville, KY 40232-5070, USA. henry.spiller@nortonhealthcare.org
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|March 18, 2009
Summary
This study details five fatal bupropion overdose cases. Sustained-release bupropion ingestion led to high blood concentrations, even with residual pill shells found in stomachs.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Bupropion is a widely prescribed antidepressant.
- Overdose cases require understanding drug absorption and metabolism.
Observation:
- Five fatal bupropion overdose cases were analyzed.
- Four cases involved sustained-release bupropion formulations.
- Autopsies revealed residual pill 'bodies' in the stomach.
Findings:
- Postmortem bupropion concentrations ranged from 3.1 to over 20 mg/L.
- Elevated blood bupropion levels correlated with sustained-release formulations.
- Residual pill shells suggest significant bupropion release and absorption.
Implications:
- This highlights the critical toxicity of sustained-release bupropion in overdose.
- Understanding bupropion pharmacokinetics in overdose is crucial for clinical management.
- Forensic analysis of residual formulations aids in determining cause of death.
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