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Propoxyphene overdosage: a study of cases involving analgesic preparations containing dextropropoxyphene

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Abstract

Propoxyphene and paracetamol concentrations have been determined in blood, urine, liver blood and stomach contents from 17 post mortem cases in which Distalgesic (a propoxyphene and paracetamol compound preparation) was involved. Five patients admitted to hospital with suspected Distalgesic poisoning have also been investigated. In most cases the propoxyphene concentrations, but not the paracetamol concentrations, exceeded the minimum lethal levels reported. On the basis of our results it appears that of the constituents of Distalgesic, propoxyphene has a far more immediate and dangerous effect than paracetamol.

Zusammenfassung

Propoxyphen- und Paracetamolkonzentrationen wurden in Blut, Hirn, Leberblut und Mageninhalt von 17 Postmortemfällen ermittelt, bei denen Distalgesic (ein Propoxyphen- und Paracetamolmischpräparat) eine Rolle spielte. Zudem wurden fünf Patienten untersucht, die mit vermutlicher Distalgesicvergiftung ins Spital aufgenommen worden waren. In den meisten Fällen überstieg zwar der Propoxyphenspiegel, nicht aber die Paracetamolkonzentration den tödlichen Mindestwert. Auf Grund unserer Ergebnisse scheint es, daß die Propoxyphenkomponente von Distalgesic eine schnellere und gefährlichere Wirkung zeigt, als die Paracetamolkomponente.

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Sengupta, A., Peat, M.A. Propoxyphene overdosage: a study of cases involving analgesic preparations containing dextropropoxyphene. Arch Toxicol 37, 123–133 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293862

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293862

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