Propoxyphene Suicides

Abstract

Propoxyphene hydrochloride poisoning rapidly causes respiratory depression, coma, and convulsions. Data presented from nine autopsied victims and one survivor suggest that death results from anoxia, with pulmonary edema and vascular congestion. Tissue concentrations of propoxyphene reached 27.3 mg/100 gm in the liver of one subject, and 13.0 mg/100 gm in the brain of another. Blood levels of the drug were generally miniscule, due to rapid sequestration in tissue. Victims brought immediately to the hospital can survive if treated with respiratory support and nalorphine hydrochloride.

Dextropropoxyphene and Norpropoxyphene in Blood, Muscle, Liver and Urine in Fatal Poisoning

“…Despite the increased frequency of fatal DP poisonings, as also reported from other countries (YOUNG 1972;STURNER & GARRI(YIT 1973;m V E Y et al 1974;SUNDKVIST & PETROVICS 1974), there has to our knowledge been no previous publication of the concentrations of DP and its metabolites present in autopsy material. This paper presents post-mortem concentrations of DP and its major metabolite NP, in blood, muscle, liver and urine from 36 cases of fatal DP poisoning.…”

Dextropropoxyphene Overdose

“…However, numerous reports of fatalities appeared subsequently from the US (Baselt et al 1975;Sturner & Garriott 1973;Young 1972), Scandinavia (Christensen 1975;Giertson & Dibb 1980;Lund & Nielson 1972;Sundvist & Petrovics 1974), and the UK (Carson & Carson 1977;Whittington 1977;Young & lawson 1980). Significantly, a large proportion of the initial reports of fatalities came from Institutes of Legal Medicine and coroners , rather than hospitals, and followed the development of reliable methods for the detection of dextropropoxyphene in postmortem tissues (Carson & Carson 1977;McBay 1976;Sturner & Garriott 1973).…”

Effects of Heroin, Morphine, Methadone, and Propoxyphene on the Lung

“…Brain tissue cannot metabolize propoxyphene, and the accumulation of propoxyphene by the brain leads to respiratory center depression with subsequent apnea and coma. 43,90 Respiratory arrest and respiratory depression are some of the manifestations of propoxyphene poisoning in humans. Comparing propoxyphene with codeine in healthy volunteers, 180 mg of oral propoxyphene produced respiratory depression equal to that produced by 60 mg of oral codeine.…”