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Research-Article

A Fatality Due to Flurazepam

IM McIntyre, Ph.D.,

IM McIntyre, Ph.D.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

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ML Syrjanen, B.Sc.,

ML Syrjanen, B.Sc.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

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KL Lawrence, B.App.Sci.,

KL Lawrence, B.App.Sci.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

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CA Dow, M.B.B.S.,

CA Dow, M.B.B.S.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

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OH Drummer, Ph.D.

OH Drummer, Ph.D.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

Search for other works by this author on:

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Author and Article Information

IM McIntyre, Ph.D.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

ML Syrjanen, B.Sc.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

KL Lawrence, B.App.Sci.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

CA Dow, M.B.B.S.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

OH Drummer, Ph.D.

¹

Chief Scientist and Hon. Senior Research Fellow; Scientist-in-Charge; Scientist; Pathologist; Assistant Director and Hon. Associate Professor

, respectively,

Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University

,

57-83 Kavanagh St. South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Australia

.

J. Forensic Sci.. Nov 1994, 39(6): 1571-1574 (4 pages)

https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS13746J

Published Online: November 1, 1994

Abstract

A fatality attributed to suicidal ingestion of up to 2.2 grams of flurazepam is described. The deceased was a 52-year old female with a history of depression and suicidal attempts. No significant pathology was found at autopsy. Full toxicological analyses detected only flurazepam and metabolites in her tissues. The concentrations of flurazepam in femoral blood, liver, bile, vitreous humor and urine were 5.5 mg/L, 130 mg/kg, 33 mg/L, 1.3 mg/L and 3.3 mg/L, respectively. Analysis of gastric contents showed 600 mg of flurazepam. Desalkylflurazepam was also detected in blood, liver, bile and vitreous, but at much lower concentrations than the parent compound.

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