Citation

Moore KA, Ripple MG, Sakinedzad S, Levine B, Fowler DR. J. Anal. Toxicol. 2003; 27(2): 110-112.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Preston Publications)

DOI

10.1093/jat/27.2.110

PMID

12670006

Abstract

Xylazine (Rompun, Sedazine, AnaSed) is currently the most commonly used sedative-analgesic in veterinary medicine. There are nine published cases of xylazine's involvement in human drug-related deaths and impairment. However, blood concentrations were reported in only four of these cases. Three of these nine cases were fatalities involving xylazine, two of which involved xylazine alone but did not report blood concentrations because of extensive decomposition of the bodies. This report documents a case in which xylazine alone was identified in a suicide by hanging. The following xylazine concentrations were found: 2.3 mg/L in heart blood; 2.9 mg/L in peripheral (subclavian) blood; 6.3 mg/L in bile; 0.01 mg/L in urine; 6.1 mg/kg in liver; and 7.8 mg/kg in kidney.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Autopsy; Bile; Forensic Medicine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Kidney; Liver; Male; Suicide; Tissue Distribution; Xylazine