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Alprazolam and Zolpidem in Skeletal Tissue of Decomposed Body Confirms Exposure
Author(s) -
Orfanidis Amvrosios,
Gika Helen,
Zaggelidou Eleni,
Mastrogianni Orthodoxia,
Raikos Nikolaos
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13890
Subject(s) - zolpidem , alprazolam , medicine , forensic toxicology , chromatography , chemistry , pharmacology , anxiety , psychiatry , insomnia
In several medico‐legal cases, bone samples analysis may provide the only source of toxicological information. This case study reports the analysis of a human bone specimen, belonging to a 46‐year‐old man, found 3 months after his death due to cervical–thoracic injuries in a motorcycle accident. Bone specimen was the only available material for toxicological analysis, among few skull hair and rotten skin. Analysis was performed by a newly developed and validated ultra‐high‐pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry ( UHPLC ‐ MS / MS ) method, following simple and efficient sample pretreatment. The results were in accordance with the man's medical record: Alprazolam and zolpidem were found at 2.2 and 5.4 ng/g of bone, respectively. Both these drugs were prescribed to the deceased.