title: Methadone, codeine and acute haemorrhagic necrotising pancreatitis: which came first?
abstract: Acute haemorrhagic necrotising pancreatitis lead to the death at home of a young female who was on a methadone maintenance programme. Toxic levels of codeine with potentially lethal levels of methadone and morphine were found at post-mortem. Whether opiates caused the pancreatitis or were the consequence of self-medication for pain is impossible to differentiate. Forensic toxicology may pose the question but be unable to provide the answer.
authors: William P
authors: WP
authors: Tormey
authors: Muna
authors: M
authors: Sabah
authors: Tara M
authors: TM
authors: Moore
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000097:blood*; D003061:Codeine / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008691:Methadone / Q000097:blood*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000097:blood*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone; D003061:Codeine