Flurazepam overdose
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Reactions 1097 - 15 Apr 2006 O S Flurazepam overdose Death in an elderly patient: case report A 68-year-old woman died following the intentional ingestion of flurazepam in a suicide attempt. The woman was found dead in her home, and approximately 75 empty boxes of flurazepam 15mg [Dalmane] were found near her body [dosage ingested and time from ingestion to death not stated]. An autopsy, performed 48 hours after the woman’s body was found, revealed that her face was slightly congested, her brain was slightly oedematous and atrophic, her lungs were congested and oedematous, and her spleen and liver appeared to be congested. She had scarce white material, partly fluid, in her stomach. Toxicological analyses showed the presence of flurazepam in her blood (2.8 µg/mL), urine (172 µg/mL) and bile (323 µg/mL), and alcohol in her blood (0.1 mg/mL). In light of the autopsy findings, the results of the toxicological analyses were considered consistent with the assumption of a fatal flurazepam overdose, with respiratory insufficiency as the underlying pathophysiological mechanism. The alcohol concentration was not considered to have played a role. Author comment: "Our results underline the observations that flurazepam in a high dosage may lead to death even in the absence of interacting drugs." Martello S, et al. Acute flurazepam intoxication - a case report. American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 27: 55-57, No. 1, Mar 2006 - Italy 801038243 1 Reactions 15 Apr 2006 No. 1097 0114-9954/10/1097-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Flurazepam overdose
Reactions 1097 - 15 Apr 2006
O SFlurazepam overdose
Death in an elderly patient: case reportA 68-year-old woman died following the intentional
ingestion of flurazepam in a suicide attempt.The woman was found dead in her home, and
approximately 75 empty boxes of flurazepam 15mg [Dalmane]were found near her body [dosage ingested and time fromingestion to death not stated].
An autopsy, performed 48 hours after the woman’s bodywas found, revealed that her face was slightly congested, herbrain was slightly oedematous and atrophic, her lungs werecongested and oedematous, and her spleen and liver appearedto be congested. She had scarce white material, partly fluid, inher stomach. Toxicological analyses showed the presence offlurazepam in her blood (2.8 µg/mL), urine (172 µg/mL) andbile (323 µg/mL), and alcohol in her blood (0.1 mg/mL). In lightof the autopsy findings, the results of the toxicological analyseswere considered consistent with the assumption of a fatalflurazepam overdose, with respiratory insufficiency as theunderlying pathophysiological mechanism. The alcoholconcentration was not considered to have played a role.
Author comment: "Our results underline the observationsthat flurazepam in a high dosage may lead to death even inthe absence of interacting drugs."Martello S, et al. Acute flurazepam intoxication - a case report. American Journalof Forensic Medicine and Pathology 27: 55-57, No. 1, Mar 2006 -Italy 801038243
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Reactions 15 Apr 2006 No. 10970114-9954/10/1097-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
