Fatal benztropine toxicity. 2001

M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Australia.

Benztropine is an anticholinergic agent used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and drug induced extrapyramidal disorders. We report a case of fatal benztropine toxicity. This drug is regarded as relatively safe and reports of isolated toxicity are scarce. In ascribing a particular death to fatal drug toxicity the forensic pathologist must take into account the circumstances surrounding the death, the presence and significance of any co-existent natural disease and the potential contribution of any other detected therapeutic or illicit agents. This interpretation will occur in the knowledge that certain drugs will not be detected and that with respect to quantification of postmortem drug levels, the notion of postmortem redistribution should always be considered.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000978 Antiparkinson Agents Agents used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The most commonly used drugs act on the dopaminergic system in the striatum and basal ganglia or are centrally acting muscarinic antagonists. Antiparkinson Drugs,Antiparkinsonian Agents,Antiparkinsonians,Agents, Antiparkinson,Agents, Antiparkinsonian,Drugs, Antiparkinson
D001344 Autopsy Postmortem examination of the body. Autopsies,Post-Mortem Examination,Postmortem Examination,Examination, Post-Mortem,Examination, Postmortem,Examinations, Post-Mortem,Examinations, Postmortem,Post Mortem Examination,Post-Mortem Examinations,Postmortem Examinations
D001590 Benztropine A centrally active muscarinic antagonist that has been used in the symptomatic treatment of PARKINSON DISEASE. Benztropine also inhibits the uptake of dopamine. Apo-Benztropine,Bensylate,Benzatropine,Benzatropine Mesylate,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Hydrobromide,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Hydrobromide, (endo)-Isomer,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Hydrochloride, (endo)-Isomer,Benztropine Mesylate,Cogentin,Cogentinol,N-Methylbenztropine,PMS-Benztropine,Apo Benztropine,Hydrobromide Benzatropine Methanesulfonate,Mesylate, Benzatropine,Mesylate, Benztropine,Methanesulfonate, Benzatropine,Methanesulfonate, Hydrobromide Benzatropine,N Methylbenztropine,PMS Benztropine
D018727 Muscarinic Antagonists Drugs that bind to but do not activate MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS, thereby blocking the actions of endogenous ACETYLCHOLINE or exogenous agonists. Muscarinic antagonists have widespread effects including actions on the iris and ciliary muscle of the eye, the heart and blood vessels, secretions of the respiratory tract, GI system, and salivary glands, GI motility, urinary bladder tone, and the central nervous system. Antimuscarinic,Antimuscarinic Agent,Antimuscarinic Agents,Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist,Muscarinic Antagonist,Antimuscarinics,Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonists,Agent, Antimuscarinic,Agents, Antimuscarinic,Antagonist, Cholinergic Muscarinic,Antagonist, Muscarinic,Antagonists, Cholinergic Muscarinic,Antagonists, Muscarinic,Muscarinic Antagonist, Cholinergic,Muscarinic Antagonists, Cholinergic
D062787 Drug Overdose Accidental or deliberate use of a medication or street drug in excess of normal dosage. Drug Overdoses,Overdose, Drug,Overdoses, Drug

Related Publications

M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
June 1972, JAMA,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
April 1972, JAMA,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
June 1985, Lancet (London, England),
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
January 2007, The Canadian journal of clinical pharmacology = Journal canadien de pharmacologie clinique,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
May 2000, The Medical journal of Australia,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
October 1980, East African medical journal,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
June 2017, Australian prescriber,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
March 1989, The American journal of medicine,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
September 1989, The American journal of medicine,
M J Lynch, and A Kotsos
September 1987, The American journal of emergency medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!