A fatal intoxication following the ingestion of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in an ayahuasca preparation.
A case of a 25-year-old white male who was found dead the morning after consuming herbal extracts containing beta-carbolines and hallucinogenic tryptamines is presented. No anatomic cause of death was found at autopsy. Toxicologic analysis of the heart blood identified N,N-dimethyltryptamine (0.02 mg/L), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1.88 mg/L), tetrahydroharmine (0.38 mg/L), harmaline (0.07 mg/L), and harmine (0.17 mg/L). All substances were extracted by a single-step n-butyl chloride extraction following alkalinization with borate buffer. Detection and quantitation was performed using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry. The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was hallucinogenic amine intoxication, and the manner of death was undetermined.
Sklerov
Jason
J
Division of Forensic Toxicology, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, 1413 Research Blvd., Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.
Levine
Barry
B
Moore
Karla A
KA
King
Theodore
T
Fowler
David
D
D000328:Adult; D031581:Banisteriopsis / Q000506:poisoning*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*
D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines