Problems of Forensic Sciences 2012 Vol. 91 (XCI) 235-242
ACUTE METHOXETAMINE POISONING – CASE REPORT
Piotr HYDZIK1, 2, Ewa GOMÓŁKA3, 4, Adrianna SULKA3, 4, Sylwia CUDZICH-CZOP4
1Toxicology Clinic, Faculty of Toxicology and Environmental Disease, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
2Toxicology Ward, University Hospital, Kraków, Poland
3Department of Analytical Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków
4Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Diagnostics, University Hospital, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
Methoxetamine (MXE) is a derivative of ketamine (which is a controlled substance in many countries in Europe and USA) with a methoxy-group. There are only a few publications about MXE, described as “legal ketamine”. Active doses of MXE range from 20 to 150 mg. Symptoms after ingestion of MXE are similar to those for ketamine and depend on the route of administration. MXE is thought to be safer than ketamine, although MXE effects can be stronger and longer-lasting; a side effect of MXE ingestion (as for ketamine) can be flashbacks. An acute MXE poisoning of a patient treated in the Toxicology Clinic of the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków is described. Symptoms at admission were: drowsiness, hallucinations, dysphasia, and impaired motor coordination. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate were a little elevated. The symptoms lasted a dozen or so hours. Ethanol and drugs of abuse (amphetamine, methamphetamine and opiates) were not present in the patient’s blood and urine; determination by the HPLC method confirmed MXE presence in concentrations: 450 ng/ml in serum and 7200 ng/ml in urine. New “designer drugs” are a challenge for physicians and analysts in toxicological departments. These compounds can cause acute poisoning and addiction. Medical (toxicological) laboratories must be prepared to determine a wide range of new “designer drugs” by chromatography methods.
Słowa kluczowe
Methoxetamine; Poisoning; HPLC.