GC/MS determination of zolpidem in postmortem specimens in a voluntary intoxication.
An ingestion of an unknown quantity of Ivadal (zolpidem) tablets in a case of drug abuse is described. The authors report a new and fast method of analysing and determining the zolpidem concentration in postmortem specimens. Quantitation of zolpidem was performed by ethyl acetate extraction from alkalinized body fluids before GC/MS analysis. The analyses were performed without any complex sample clean-up steps and with little sample material. Postmortem concentrations of zolpidem in body fluids are given. The proposed method is a rapid procedure of analysis in cases of deliberate poisoning with the sedative-hypnotic drug, zolpidem.
Keller
T
T
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Paris-Lodron University, Salzburg, Austria.
Schneider
A
A
Tutsch-Bauer
E
E
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001344:Autopsy; D062787:Drug Overdose; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D011725:Pyridines / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000652:urine; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013405:Suicide; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem