title: Zolpidem tissue concentrations in a multiple drug related death involving Ambien.
abstract: Zolpidem (Ambien), a relatively new nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic, was involved in the death of a 39-year-old obese male who was being treated for depression and insomnia. The identification and quantitation procedures of zolpidem in postmortem tissues included dual-column gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen-phosphorus detection and GC-mass spectrometry. Zolpidem was present at concentrations of 2.91, 1.40, and 2.13 microg/mL in the heart blood, peripheral blood, and urine, respectively. The liver had zolpidem present at a concentration of 4.74 microg/g, and the gastric contents had a total of 172 mg zolpidem. Additional drugs present included hydrocodone and morphine (nonconjugated) at 0.16 and 0.04 microg/mL, respectively. The cause of death was determined to be multiple drug intoxication. This report describes the analytical techniques and significance of the zolpidem findings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Sciences Toxicology Laboratory, Oakland, CA 94609, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Meeker
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Som
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Macapagal
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D062787:Drug Overdose; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009294:Narcotics; D011725:Pyridines; D006853:Hydrocodone; D009020:Morphine; D000077334:Zolpidem