The analysis of verapamil in postmortem specimens by HPLC and GC

High levels of verapamil (1) were found in the blood, stomach contents, and liver and kidney specimens in a fatal overdose case. The drug was extracted from both acid and enzyme digested tissue with ether, chloroform, and 1-chlorobutane and the digests analysed by both high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Verapamil was extracted directly from the blood and stomach contents. The extraction efficiencies of each method are discussed. The metabolite, norverapamil (II), was observed in liver and kidney extractions and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.