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An Intentional Poisoning by Lormetazepam in a Patient Treated with Nordiazepam

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  1. 1 Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Marseille, Section Toxicologie, Institut National de Police Scientifique, France
Forensic Medicine and Anatomy Research·Volume 02, Issue 4·Pages 107–112·Published 23 September 2014·DOI10.4236/fmar.2014.24018
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Abstract

A case of suspected poisoning by benzodiazepines is presented in this paper. Toxicological analyses were applied on the blood collected 48 hours after the facts. GC-MS and HPLC-DAD have detected only nordiazepam which was prescribed in the treatment. Therefore, LC-MS/MS has detected lormetazepam and lorazepam (major metabolite of lormetazepam) in addition of nordiazepam. The concentrations of lormetazepam, lorazepam and nordiazepam measured in blood were 6.8, 6.3, and 16.2 ng/mL, respectively. The initial concentration of each drug at the relevant time, has been calculated from these residual concentrations, using an extrapolation approach. According to estimates, only lormetazepam (189 ng/mL) and lorazepam (68 ng/mL), were active at the target moment. A poisoning by lormetazepam was then considered. The more technology we have, the greater chance we have to get an outcome that is favorable to justice.

KeywordsBenzodiazepinesDiscrimination between Poison and MedicationLC-MS/MS
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