Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Antidepressant Drugs: Forensic Toxicology of Some Autopsy Cases

Abstract

This study presents the toxicologic findings from 44 coroners' autopsies; 24 cases had ingested either one of the tricyclic antidepressant drugs, emitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, dothiepin, doxepin or the tetrecyclic drug, maprotiline. The remaining cases had ingested a drug “cocktail,” including one or more antidepressant substances. Quantitative analyses of autopsy specimens were based upon GLC of appropriate extracts.