Journal Published Online: 01 May 1993
Volume 38, Issue 3

Documentation of a Doxylamine Overdose Death: Quantitation by Standard Addition and Use of Three Instrumental Techniques

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

To answer the question. “Is this death due to a drug overdose?” requires at least that the drug be unequivocally identified and a blood concentration reliably determined. The approach taken in this case as standard addition technique and use of three different chromatographic techniques—high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high performance thin—layer chromatography (HP-TLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Each of the chromatographies was carried out on the same extract by splitting the residue three ways. HPLC provided a quantitative result which was 1.2 mg/L in blood and HP-TLC and GC/MS confirmed this result with additional quantitative data, information about two metabolites (nordoxylamine and dinordoxylamine) and conclusive identification. Blood nordoxylamine was 0.52 mg/L and doxylamine plus metabolites in urine was 25 mg/L.

Author Information

Siek, TJ
Analytic Bio-Chemistries, Feasterville, PA
Dunn, WA
Analytic Bio-Chemistries, Feasterville, PA
Pages: 8
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS13460J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13460J