TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1998//
TI  - Fatalities caused by anticholinergic antiparkinsonian drugs. Analysis of findings in a 11-year national material
JO  - Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening
A1  - Gjerden, P.
A1  - Engelstad, K. S.
A1  - Pettersen, G.
A1  - Slørdal, L.
SP  - 42
EP  - 44
VL  - 118
IS  - 1
N2  - All autopsy samples received at the National Institute of Forensic Toxicology during the years 1986-1996 which contained anticholinergic antiparkinsonian drugs were reviewed. Of a total of 69 cases, orphenadrine was present in 57 (83%), biperiden in 8 (12%), procyclidine in 3 (4%), and trihexyphenidyl/benzhexol in 1 (1%) of the subjects. The measured concentrations were assessed in light of previously published data. Of 21 cases where causality between drug ingestion and death was classified as either highly probable (18/21) or possible (3/21), all subjects tested positive for orphenadrine. In the autopsy samples from these patients, orphenadrine concentrations in the 4.5-600 mumol/l range (mean 62.5 mumol/l, SD 126.5 mumol/l) were determined. Because of a low national autopsy rate, there is reason to believe that the actual numbers of drug-related deaths in this period may have been significantly higher. It is concluded that orphenadrine is responsible for a disproportionally high number of overdose deaths.<p /> <p>Language: no</p>
LA  - no
SN  - 0029-2001
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -