Death due to apparent intravenous injection of tapentadol.
This case report describes a 34-year-old male who died as the result of tapentadol toxicity. This case apparently represents the first reported description of a death because of this drug. The toxicologic features of this case, namely concentrations of tapentadol in the femoral blood and heart blood, 1.05 and 3.20 mg/L, respectively, may assist other individuals in evaluating deaths where tapentadol concentration is a factor. Analysis of the blood based upon enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed no other substance of significance, only nicotine and cotinine, and the autopsy findings were consistent with an opiate-type drug overdose, and indicated no competing cause of death.
Montana State Forensic Science Division, P.O. Box 16010, Missoula, MT 59808, USA. wkemp@mt.gov
Walter
W
Kemp
Scott
S
Schlueter
Elizabeth
E
Smalley
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D000077432:Tapentadol
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010636:Phenols; D000077432:Tapentadol