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Postmortem Detection of Benzodiazepines
Current Issue
Volume 2, 2014
Issue 1 (February)
Pages: 1-8   |   Vol. 2, No. 1, February 2014   |   Follow on         
Paper in PDF Downloads: 49   Since Aug. 28, 2015 Views: 2051   Since Aug. 28, 2015
Authors
[1]
Hooman Rowshan , Department of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Abstract
More than 2,000 different Benzodiazepines (BZD) have been synthesized. There are about three-dozen BZD derivatives that are also available on the market. These drugs have been implicated in sudden and unexplained deaths especially when co-ingested with alcohol. Interpretation of forensic postmortem toxicological data can be very difficult and should be done with a thorough knowledge of the case history, including autopsy results, reports from the scene, and available medical history. Experienced forensic toxicologists rely on their own case experience as well as the unique circumstances of each case under examination. Even armed with detailed toxicological data, it is still difficult to pinpoint the cause of death when multiple agents are ingested at the same time.
Keywords
Pharmacology, Forensic Toxicology, Benzodiazepines, Clinical Pharmacology, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatric Drugs, Postmortem Forensic Examination, Forensic Medicine
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