@article{ref1,
title="Deaths associated with brotizolam poisoning from a single drug overdose: four reported cases",
journal="American journal of forensic medicine and pathology",
year="2018",
author="Sakai, Kentaro and Saito, Kazuyuki and Takada, Aya and Hikiji, Wakako and Kikuchi, Yosuke and Fukunaga, Tatsushige",
volume="39",
number="1",
pages="82-84",
abstract="Brotizolam is a short-acting hypnotic in the benzodiazepine family, and fatal poisonings by an overdose of brotizolam are rare. This report describes 4 cases of deaths associated with brotizolam poisoning from a single drug overdose. The ages ranged from 51 to 90 years, and the postmortem interval between death and tissue sampling was 1.5 to 2.5 days. These deaths were classified as 1 homicide and 3 suicides. The concentration of the brotizolam ranged from 0.05 to 0.21 mg/L in the blood samples. Ethanol, which could cause mild alcohol intoxication, was detected in the blood samples from 2 cases. Postmortem examinations did not find any significant pathologic conditions, except for a case of death by drowning in a bathtub due to brotizolam poisoning. These 4 cases suggest that a brotizolam overdose should not be underestimated in terms of its fatal effects, particularly when situations involve alcohol intoxication, injury subsequent to the poisoning, or underlying medical conditions including aging.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-7910",
doi="10.1097/PAF.0000000000000358",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PAF.0000000000000358"
}