Two Cases of Fatal Zopiclone Overdose

Peter J. Boniface, Sarah G.G. Russell
1996 Journal of Analytical Toxicology  
Two cases of death due to the ingestion of zopiclone are presented. Quantitative determinations of zopiclone yielded 1.4-3.9 mg/L in the blood, 0.81 and 8.7 mg/kg in the liver, and 13.5 and 133 mg in the stomach contents. Drug concentrations were interpreted relative to the case findings, published data, and a limited evaluation of therapeutic concentrations found in two cases of therapeutic zopiclone use. Zopiclone was extracted from buffered blood or digested liver or both with n-butyl
more » ... e and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Liver samples were digested at pH 7 to avoid zopiclone decomposition.
doi:10.1093/jat/20.2.131 pmid:8868406 fatcat:3g36vztpgzd57pqoavn7xr6g2a