Citation

Beno JM, Nemeth DR. J. Anal. Toxicol. 1991; 15(5): 285-287.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Preston Publications)

DOI

10.1093/jat/15.5.285

PMID

1960984

Abstract

A fatality resulting from the suicidal ingestion of diltiazem and metoclopramide is described. The decedent was a 25-year-old female with a history of alcoholism and cocaine abuse who overdosed on her mother's medications. On admission she was bradycardiac with severe hypotension and third-degree heart block which progressed to asystole. She was resuscitated but remained comatose until her death four days later. Serum samples from the first 15 h of hospitalization were analyzed for diltiazem and metoclopramide by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Diltiazem levels 1 hour post admission were 8.49 mg/L. Diltiazem elimination followed zero-order kinetics with an elimination rate of 0.68 mg/L/h. Metoclopramide levels 1 hour post admission were 4.4 mg/L. Data indicated a biphasic elimination curve for metoclopramide with an initial half-life of 1.3 h and a terminal half-life of 20 h.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Chromatography, Gas; Diltiazem; Drug Overdose; Female; Humans; Metoclopramide; Suicide