SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists
SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists
SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists
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C29 <br />
AN EVENT ASSOCIATED WITH FATAL 2,5-DIMETHOXY-4-BROMOAMPHETAMINE<br />
OVERDOSE<br />
Marie Balikova* <br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> <strong>Forensic</strong> Medicine and Toxicology, 1 st Medical Faculty, Charles University in Prague, <br />
121 08 Prague 2, Czech Republic, (mbali@lfl.cuni.cz)<br />
2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB) is a strongly acting hallucinogen with effective dose estimate<br />
for an 80 kg man being 2 mg (I). In the event reported here, two men were provided a capsule with white<br />
powder containing an unknown substance in order to test its effects as a new LSD like hallucinogen. They<br />
shared the content <strong>of</strong> a capsule and consumed it orally followed with strong rapid hallucinations and<br />
vomiting, unconsciousness and coma lasting several days. After unknown time elapsed since the<br />
application, they were admitted to the hospital in coma state without response to analgesic irritation. The<br />
man AX 28 years (113 kg) survived. The man BX 29 years (65 kg) experienced convulsions, metabolic<br />
acidosis (pH 6.6) and died after six days. Immediately after the admission to the hospital, gastric content,<br />
blood and urine specimens were sampled and sent for toxicological examination. Alcohol in blood samples<br />
was not found. Cedia urine screening indicated the presence <strong>of</strong> THCOOH in both cases, cocaine and<br />
metabolites in AX urine, and no signal corresponding to amphetamines presence was detected. Finally,<br />
GC-MS method for unknown drugs discovered the presence <strong>of</strong> DOB in gastric content and urine samples<br />
<strong>of</strong> both persons. GC-MS targeted analysis for acetylated DOB confirmed its presence in blood <strong>of</strong> both<br />
persons and quantitative analysis provided the concentration values in serum 13nglml (AX - survived)<br />
and 19 nglml (BX - deceased). This report both on nonfatal and fatal DOB overdose cases is based on clear<br />
toxicological evidence, moreover it is completed with antemortem DOB blood serum levels and probably<br />
it is the first sign <strong>of</strong>DOB occurence in the Czech Republic.<br />
Reference: (1) A. Shulgin, A. Shulgin: PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. Transform Press, Berkeley CA,<br />
1998<br />
Keywords: 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine, DOB overdose, fatal intoxication<br />
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