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Journal of Substance Use Volume 28, 2023 - Issue 4
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Review Article

Fatal self-poisoning with amitriptyline: a case report and brief review of literature

Qing Gaoa Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China;b Department of Forensic Medicine, Wuhan University Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Bin Lva Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China;c Medical Affairs Office, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaView further author information
,
Weisheng Huanga Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaView further author information
,
Tianying Suna Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaView further author information
&
Hongmei Donga Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1086-1002View further author information
ORCID Icon
Pages 489-491 | Received 11 Nov 2021, Accepted 24 Apr 2022, Published online: 26 Apr 2022
 
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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).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

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