A fatality involving metaxalone. 2005

Karla A Moore, and Barry Levine, and David Fowler
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, 111 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. kamoore2@juno.com

A case is presented of a 54-year-old white female found dead in a secured apartment. Postmortem toxicologic analysis of the heart blood identified acetaminophen (97 mg/L), citalopram (0.4 mg/L), gabapentin (24 mg/L) and metaxalone (21 mg/L). The metaxalone concentration is within the range of previously reported fatalities involving metaxalone. The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was metaxalone and gabapentin intoxication and the manner of death was suicide.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009125 Muscle Relaxants, Central A heterogeneous group of drugs used to produce muscle relaxation, excepting the neuromuscular blocking agents. They have their primary clinical and therapeutic uses in the treatment of muscle spasm and immobility associated with strains, sprains, and injuries of the back and, to a lesser degree, injuries to the neck. They have been used also for the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions that have in common only the presence of skeletal muscle hyperactivity, for example, the muscle spasms that can occur in MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p358) Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants,Central Muscle Relaxants,Relaxants, Central Muscle
D003509 Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids Carboxylic acid derivatives of cyclohexane. Acids, Cyclohexanecarboxylic
D005260 Female Females
D005680 gamma-Aminobutyric Acid The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. 4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077206 Gabapentin A cyclohexane-gamma-aminobutyric acid derivative that is used for the treatment of PARTIAL SEIZURES; NEURALGIA; and RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME. 1-(Aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic Acid,Apo-Gabapentin,Convalis,Gabapentin Hexal,Gabapentin Stada,Gabapentin-Ratiopharm,Neurontin,Novo-Gabapentin,PMS-Gabapentin,Apo Gabapentin,ApoGabapentin,Gabapentin Ratiopharm,Novo Gabapentin,NovoGabapentin
D000588 Amines A group of compounds derived from ammonia by substituting organic radicals for the hydrogens. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Amine
D000700 Analgesics Compounds capable of relieving pain without the loss of CONSCIOUSNESS. Analgesic,Anodynes,Antinociceptive Agents,Analgesic Agents,Analgesic Drugs,Agents, Analgesic,Agents, Antinociceptive,Drugs, Analgesic

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