[An autopsy case of poisoning by neuropsychopharmaceuticals including zopiclone].
We report here a suicide case involving neuropsychopharmaceuticals. The deceased was a 30-year-old housewife, 151 cm in height and 46.0 kg in weight. Macroscopically, slight lung congestion and edema and slight brain edema were noted. The stomach contained approximately 200 ml of a greenish-brown material with many solid granules. Toxicological analysis demonstrated 44.9 micrograms/ml of zopiclone (ZP), 12.8 micrograms/ml of phenobarbital (PB), 10.9 micrograms/ml of chlorpromazine (CPZ), and 4.8 micrograms/ml of promethazine (PM) in the gastric contents; 0.5 microgram/ml of ZP, 8.6 micrograms/ml of PB, 0.2 microgram/ml of CPZ, and 0.3 microgram/ml of PM in the serum; and 43.0 micrograms/ml of ZP, 8.1 micrograms/ml of PB, 1.3 micrograms/ml of CPZ, and 1.3 micrograms/ml of PM in the urine. On the basis of these findings, the cause of death was considered to be neuropsychopharmaceutical poisoning; ZP was most probably responsible for her death.
Yamazaki
M
M
Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Terada
M
M
Mitsukuni
Y
Y
Yoshimura
M
M
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000032:analysis; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000032:analysis; D010879:Piperazines / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D011398:Promethazine / Q000032:analysis; D013405:Suicide
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone; D011398:Promethazine; D002746:Chlorpromazine; D010634:Phenobarbital