https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1086-1002
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ABSTRACT
Introduction
Amitriptyline is a classic tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with anticholinergic and sedative properties, whose precise lethal blood concentration has not been yet established.
Case report
The case presented here is of a 27-year-old woman who received a fatal amitriptyline intoxication without evidence of injury, mechanical asphyxia or lethal anatomical changes. The amitriptyline level in postmortem heart blood was 8.8 μg/ml. The toxicological analysis for other drugs and common toxicants was negative. The cause of death was determined as amitriptyline self-poisoning.
Discussion and Conclusion
Our report provides a reference for the lethal concentration of amitriptyline. We also discuss the issues of poison analysis at postmortem.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).