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A fatal case of methotrimeprazine overdose
1Department of Justice, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Health Sciences Center, St. John's, Canada.
Abstract:
Fatal ingestion of methotrimeprazine is unusual, and while therapeutic drug levels are established as concentrations between 0.02 to 0.14 mg/L, fatal levels are not. The following describes a case of fatal suicidal ingestion of methotrimeprazine in which the measured concentration of methotrimeprazine in the blood was 4.1 mg/L. In addition, the major metabolites of methotrimeprazine, desmethylmethotrimeprazine, and methotrimeprazine sulfoxide were also measured at 2.0 and 1.8 mg/L, respectively. Methotrimeprazine and its metabolites were also measured in urine, bile, and vitreous humor. These results are compared with other case reports of methotrimeprazine fatalities reported in the literature.
Insights
Fatal methotrimeprazine ingestion is rare. This case report details a fatal suicidal overdose with blood methotrimeprazine levels of 4.1 mg/L, significantly exceeding therapeutic ranges.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Fatal methotrimeprazine ingestion is uncommon.
- Established therapeutic drug levels for methotrimeprazine range from 0.02 to 0.14 mg/L.
- Defining fatal concentrations remains challenging.
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