title: Thioridazine and its metabolites in post mortem blood, including two stereoisomeric ring sulfoxides.
abstract: Thioridazine and metabolites were determined by a selective HPLC technique in blood from five post-mortem cases; two deaths attributed to drug overdose and three deaths due to natural causes or trauma. Additionally, total thioridazine-like compounds were determined in these blood samples and liver specimens by a nonspecific fluorometric technique. Blood concentrations were: thioridazine, 0.78-8.85 mg/L; mesoridazine, 0.52-26.8 mg/L; and sulforidazine, 0.00-0.87 mg/L. Thioridazine-5-sulfoxide stereoisomeric DL,LD, and DD,LL pair concentrations ranged from 0.02-0.56 and 0.03-0.83 mg/L, respectively. Thioridazine metabolite profiles were not helpful in differentiating therapeutic administration from severe overdose. Liver appears to be the specimen of choice in the assessment of thioridazine overdose.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000097:blood; D013881:Thioridazine / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: D013454:Sulfoxides; D013881:Thioridazine