title: Analytical findings of an acute intoxication after inhalation of methoxetamine.
abstract: Methoxetamine (MXE) is increasingly used and abused, as it is frequently presented as being safer than ketamine, and legal. Cases of only MXE consumption being associated with the occurrence of seizures are rarely reported. A single MXE intoxication case by inhalation is described concerning a 21-year-old man, not known to be epileptic, who was found collapsed in his bedroom, supposedly after an epileptic seizure. He was transferred to the Emergency Department of the Henri Mondor Hospital, Aurillac, France. He was conscious, but with a sinus bradycardia (48/min) and an ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram, and a slightly increased creatine kinase level (270 U/L) and hyponatremia (127 mmol/L). New seizure activity occurred during hospitalization, but the clinical course in the intensive care unit was favorable. Quantitation of MXE in serum and urine using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed, as well as a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method for the determination of MXE in hair. Limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, 2 and 10 µg/L for the GC-MS method and both 0.5 pg/mg for the LC-MS-MS method. Concentrations of 30 and 408 µg/L were, respectively, measured in serum and urine. Concentrations of 135 and 145 pg/mg were detected in two 2.5 cm hair strands, consistent with one or several consumptions during the 2 ½ months prior to sampling. A sample of the powder consumed was available and also analyzed. This case illustrates the dangers of this drug, which justify its classification as a narcotic in France since August 2013.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital, Limoges 87042, France laurent.imbert@ch-havre.fr.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.affiliation: Evaluation and Information Centre for Drug Addiction, Lyon 69424, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Addictology Unit, Henri Mondor Hospital, Aurillac 15002, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delhome
authors.affiliation: Emergency Unit, Henri Mondor Hospital, Aurillac 15002, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cueto
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Henri Mondor Hospital, Aurillac 15002, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boudinaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital, Limoges 87042, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maublanc
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital, Limoges 87042, France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dulaurent
authors.affiliation: Evaluation and Information Centre for Drug Addiction, Lyon 69424, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Descotes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital, Limoges 87042, France Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Toxicology, Limoges 87000, France.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lachâtre
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital, Limoges 87042, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaulier
mesh_terms: D003512:Cyclohexanones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D003514:Cyclohexylamines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003512:Cyclohexanones; D003514:Cyclohexylamines; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C569113:2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone