Zolpidem is a nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotic drug used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. While quite effective in producing sedation, zolpidem has potentially hazardous side effects when put in the context of complex tasks. Therefore, to more fully understand the postmortem concentrations of zolpidem, our laboratory has developed a sensitive method for the quantitation of zolpidem in biological specimens. Additionally, we have evaluated the distribution of zolpidem in various postmortem tissues and fluids from 10 aviation fatalities. This method incorporated a modified acetonitrile 'crash and shoot' extraction and a Waters Xevo TQ-S with an Acquity ultra-performance liquid chromatograph. The linear dynamic range was 0.4-800 ng/mL. The extraction efficiencies ranged from 78 to 87%, depending on the concentration. Postmortem blood zolpidem concentrations in these 10 cases ranged from 7.6 to 76.5 ng/mL. The highest concentrations of zolpidem present in each victim were found in the liver, spleen, lung and kidney tissues. Distribution coefficients for zolpidem were determined for each of the specimen types analyzed. These coefficients are expressed relative to the blood concentration in each case. This method proved to be simple, accurate and robust for the identification and quantitation of zolpidem in postmortem fluids and tissues.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jat/bku062 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Fatal pregabalin poisoning in Japan: A case report.
Leg Med (Tokyo)
November 2024
Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Article Synopsis
- * A fatal case in Japan revealed that a patient with multiple prescriptions, including pregabalin, overdosed; while initial screenings missed pregabalin, further tests confirmed its presence at a dangerous level.
- * The case highlights the need for Japanese healthcare professionals to recognize the risks of pregabalin overdose and suggests that it should be included in routine drug screenings postmortem to better understand its potential dangers.
Analysis of 132 submandibular salivary glands using the Randox Evidence Investigator and Randox DOA ULTRA WB array.
J Anal Toxicol
October 2024
Department of Toxicology, Western Michigan University Home Stryker MD School of Medicine (WMed), Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA.
Occasionally, obtaining an adequate or acceptable postmortem blood specimen for drug analysis is not possible due to factors such as decomposition, exsanguination, or embalming. Submandibular salivary gland tissue, one of three major types of salivary gland tissue in the oral cavity of humans, has been reported to be a viable alternative postmortem specimen for toxicological testing. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Randox Evidence Investigator instrument and Randox DOA (Drugs of Abuse) Ultra Whole Blood Array for the semi-quantitative determination of 21 immunoassays in an alternative matrix, submandibular salivary gland tissue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment and Validation of a Sonication-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Procedure and an HPLC-PDA Method for Quantitative Determination of Zolpidem in Human Plasma and Its Application to Forensic Samples.
Molecules
May 2024
Forensic Toxicology Service, Forensic Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, C/San Francisco s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Article Synopsis
- A rapid and validated HPLC-PDA method was developed for extracting and quantifying zolpidem in plasma, ensuring high accuracy and recovery rates.
- The method was successfully applied to ten real postmortem samples, revealing that most deaths involving zolpidem also included other substances like alcohol or drugs.
Drug-facilitated sexual assault followed by femicidal chloroform poisoning and suffocation: A case-report of criminal responsibility.
Leg Med (Tokyo)
February 2024
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address:
Introduction: Criminal responsibility evaluation represents one of the most controversial and debated issues in forensic psychiatry. Although clear procedures have been recommended, little research exists on decision-making process by forensic psychiatrists. We present a case assessing the criminal responsibility of a murderer who committed femicide as a result of chloroform poisoning and suffocation after a drug-facilitated sexual assault.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!