Postmortem concentrations of citalopram.
The postmortem concentrations of citalopram in blood, bile, liver, and vitreous humour were investigated in 14 cases using a specially developed high performance liquid chromatography assay. Concentrations from drug and non-drug related deaths were categorized to determine a postmortem therapeutic and toxic range. Therapeutic citalopram concentrations for blood, bile, liver, and vitreous humour ranged to 0.4 mg/L, 2.1 mg/l, 6.6 mg/kg, and 0.2 mg/L, respectively. In one potentially fatal response to citalopram, concentrations were 0.8 mg/L, 6.0 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L for blood, bile and vitreous humour, respectively.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Southbank, Victoria, Australia.
Nicole
N
Anastos
Iain M
IM
McIntyre
Matthew J
MJ
Lynch
Olaf H
OH
Drummer
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001344:Autopsy; D002138:Calibration; D002423:Cause of Death; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015283:Citalopram / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012016:Reference Values; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram