title: Distribution of triazolam and alpha-hydroxytriazolam in a fatal intoxication case.
abstract: The case of a 77-year-old woman who was found dead in her bathtub with her head clearly above the water line is presented. The decedent had a medical history of depression, liver disease, spinal stenosis, and diabetes mellitus. An empty medication bottle of triazolam was found in the trashcan. At autopsy, no injury or evidence of drowning was found. Toxicological analysis identified triazolam at a concentration of 0.12 mg/L in the heart blood. Triazolam and alpha-hydroxytriazolam were quantitated in the specimens received. The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was triazolam intoxication and the manner of death was suicide.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, Baltimore 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieshaber
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pestaner
authors.forename: Karla A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smialek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014229:Triazolam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014229:Triazolam; C028638:alpha-hydroxytriazolam