Acute poisoning with dextropropoxyphene. Clinical symptoms and plasma concentrations.

Abstract

Out of 14 cases of poisoning assumed to be due to dextropropoxyphene-containing drugs, propoxyphene and its main metabolite norpropoxyphene could be demonstrated in 11. The concentrations of the drugs were determined shortly after admission and then after 2, 4, 6 and 10 hours (in four cases also after 16 hours). The highest plasma concentration of propoxyphene, 0.74 mug/ml, was found in one case of fatal poisoning. Another patient with a plasma concentration of 0.51 mug/ml showed signs of severe respiratory depression but survived after respirator therapy. In the patients with lower plasma concentrations the poisoning had a benign course. In most cases the plasma concentration of norpropoxyphene exceeded that of propoxyphene even in the first blood sample.

• Authors: A Gustafson, B Gustafsson
• Journal: Acta medica Scandinavica (Acta Med Scand) Vol. 200 Issue 4 Pg. 241-8 ( 1976) ISSN: 0001-6101 [Print] Sweden
• PMID: 983792 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Barbiturates
• Drug Combinations
• Salicylates
• Ethanol
• Aspirin
• Dextropropoxyphene

Topics

• Acidosis (chemically induced)
• Acute Disease
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Arrhythmia, Sinus (chemically induced)
• Aspirin (blood)
• Barbiturates (blood)
• Dextropropoxyphene (analogs & derivatives, blood, poisoning)
• Drug Combinations
• Ethanol (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Respiration Disorders (chemically induced)
• Salicylates (blood)
• Time Factors
• Ventricular Fibrillation (chemically induced)