Mixed drug intoxication involving zaleplon ("Sonata").
Zaleplon ("Sonata") is a pyrazolopyrimidine derivative approved for use in the United States for the treatment of insomnia. To date, there has been little data in the toxicological literature where zaleplon has been implicated as causing a fatal intoxication, either alone or in combination with other drugs. This report documents a case where zaleplon was identified in a suicide by multiple drug ingestion. The following zaleplon concentrations were found: heart blood 2.2mg/l; bile 8.6mg/l and urine 1.4mg/l. Zaleplon was also detected but not quantitated in the kidney and liver.
Moore
Karla A
KA
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, 111 Penn Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. kamoore2@juno.com
Zemrus
Tasha L
TL
Ramcharitar
Vera
V
Levine
Barry
B
Fowler
David R
DR
D000081:Acetamides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*; D000328:Adult; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000506:poisoning*; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011398:Promethazine / Q000506:poisoning*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*; D013405:Suicide
D000081:Acetamides; D001463:Barbiturates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011398:Promethazine; C004470:butalbital; C085665:zaleplon