Citation

Takei S, Kinoshita H, Jamal M, Kumihashi M, Yamashita T, Tanaka E, Kawahara S, Abe H, Tsutsui K, Kimura S. Front. Pharmacol. 2023; 14: e1196565.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Frontiers Media)

DOI

10.3389/fphar.2023.1196565

PMID

37292155

PMCID

PMC10244534

Abstract

A case of fatal poisoning involving multiple psychotropic drugs is presented. Quantitative toxicological analysis showed femoral blood concentrations of pentobarbital, phenobarbital, duloxetine, acetaminophen and tramadol were 10.39, 22.57, 0.22, 0.61 and 0.22 μg/ml, respectively. We concluded that the death was due to the additive effects of two barbiturates. As both pentobarbital and phenobarbital act on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, central nervous system activity was suppressed, causing respiratory depression. Additive pharmacological effects should be considered in cases of massive ingestion of multiple drugs.

Language: en

Keywords

forensic toxicology; additive pharmacological effects; massive ingestion; pentobarbital; phenobarbital