Forensic science international
-
Review Case Reports
Lethal suicidal intoxication with propafenone, after a history of self-inflicted injuries.
Report of a suicidal mono-intoxication with the class IC antiarrythmic drug propafenone. A 20-year-old female physician's assistant secretly ingested the substance (presumably 20 tablets per 300 mg) about 4-6 h before her death, and in the interim remained under the supervision of her physician. ⋯ After about 4 h without serious symptoms acute loss of consciousness and cardiac failure occurred, resuscitation efforts remained unsuccessful. At autopsy propafenone was found in blood (12 micrograms ml-1), liver (60 micrograms g-1) and cardiac muscle (11 micrograms g-1).