title: A study involving venlafaxine overdoses: comparison of fatal and therapeutic concentrations in postmortem specimens.
abstract: The distribution and redistribution of venlafaxine were investigated in two overdoses and several cases involving the therapeutic use of venlafaxine. Blood, liver, bile vitreous humor, urine and gastric contents were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Blood concentrations of venlafaxine in the two overdose cases were 53 mg/L and 78 mg/L. Comparison of venlafaxine concentrations in blood samples taken at different times after death revealed increases in concentrations over time, suggesting the possible postmortem redistribution of venlafaxine.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Batziris
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Hoeven
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeSilva
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: McIntyre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000506:poisoning*; D001344:Autopsy; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000506:poisoning*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride