Nefopam hydrochloride: a fatal overdose

Seetohul, L. N., De Paoli, G., Drummond, G. and Maskell, P. D. (2015) Nefopam hydrochloride: a fatal overdose. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 39(6), pp. 486-489. (doi: 10.1093/jat/bkv036) (PMID:25855761)

Abstract

Nefopam is a non-opiate analgesic commonly used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. A case of a 37-year-old male who was found dead in the morning is presented. An autopsy was performed and femoral venous blood, heart blood, urine, and vitreous humor were submitted for toxicological analysis. A general drug screen detected the presence of nefopam, caffeine, nicotine, citalopram, gabapentin, amitriptyline, diazepam and paracetamol in cardiac blood. Nefopam was quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Nefopam was found at the following concentrations: 13.6 mg/L in unpreserved femoral blood; 14.7 mg/L in preserved (fluoride–oxalate) femoral blood; 21.2 mg/L in unpreserved cardiac blood and 4.5 mg/L in preserved vitreous. Citalopram was present at a concentration of 0.7 mg/L (femoral blood) and 0.9 mg/L (cardiac blood). Ethanol analyzed by headspace gas chromatography (GC–FID) was detected in preserved (fluoride–oxalate) vitreous (14 mg/100 mL) and preserved (fluoride–oxalate) urine 50 mg/100 mL. Death was attributed to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and therapeutic drug toxicity.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Maskell, Peter
• Authors: Seetohul, L. N., De Paoli, G., Drummond, G., and Maskell, P. D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Analytical Toxicology
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0146-4760
• ISSN (Online): 1945-2403
• Published Online: 07 April 2015