Thioridazine and its metabolites in post mortem blood, including two stereoisomeric ring sulfoxides

Thioridazine and metabolites were determined by a selective HPLC technique in blood from five post-mortem cases; two deaths attributed to drug overdose and three deaths due to natural causes or trauma. Additionally, total thioridazine-like compounds were determined in these blood samples and liver specimens by a nonspecific fluorometric technique. Blood concentrations were: thioridazine, 0.78-8.85 mg/L; mesoridazine, 0.52-26.8 mg/L; and sulforidazine, 0.00-0.87 mg/L. Thioridazine-5-sulfoxide stereoisomeric DL,LD, and DD,LL pair concentrations ranged from 0.02-0.56 and 0.03-0.83 mg/L, respectively. Thioridazine metabolite profiles were not helpful in differentiating therapeutic administration from severe overdose. Liver appears to be the specimen of choice in the assessment of thioridazine overdose.