HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS findings in fatality involving (Z)-cis-clopenthixol (zuclopenthixol).
A fatality that was due to massive ingestion of the thioxanthene neuroleptic (Z)-cis-clopenthixol (zuclopenthixol, Z-CPT) is described. The total toxicological screening and the quantitation of both the ingested drugs and its inactive isomer (E)-trans-clopenthixol (E-CPT, produced by in vivo isomerization) in postmortem fluids and viscerae were produced by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection. Drug confirmation was carried out by HPLC-mass spectrometry with an ionspray interface. Although death occurred 40 h after the drug intake, postmortem blood concentrations were 391 and 275 mg/mL for Z-CPT and E-CPT, respectively (50 to 100 times the usual therapeutic values). The cause of death was suicide, and the manner was acute neuroleptic overdosage.
Tracqui
A
A
Institut de Médecine Légale, Strasbourg, France.
Kintz
P
P
Cirimele
V
V
Berthault
F
F
Mangin
P
P
Ludes
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003006:Clopenthixol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology; D014781:Viscera / Q000378:metabolism
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003006:Clopenthixol