title: Acute poisoning with dextropropoxyphene. Clinical symptoms and plasma concentrations.
abstract: Out of 14 cases of poisoning assumed to be due to dextropropoxyphene-containing drugs, propoxyphene and its main metabolite norpropoxyphene could be demonstrated in 11. The concentrations of the drugs were determined shortly after admission and then after 2, 4, 6 and 10 hours (in four cases also after 16 hours). The highest plasma concentration of propoxyphene, 0.74 mug/ml, was found in one case of fatal poisoning. Another patient with a plasma concentration of 0.51 mug/ml showed signs of severe respiratory depression but survived after respirator therapy. In the patients with lower plasma concentrations the poisoning had a benign course. In most cases the plasma concentration of norpropoxyphene exceeded that of propoxyphene even in the first blood sample.
mesh_terms: D000138:Acidosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000139:chemically induced; D001241:Aspirin / Q000097:blood; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000097:blood; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D012459:Salicylates / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012459:Salicylates; D000431:Ethanol; D001241:Aspirin; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene