Verapamil tissue concentrations in fatal cases

Abstract

Postmortem findings are presented for fourteen cases of Verapamil induced or related deaths. Liver, blood, and stomach concentrations of Verapamil alone or in combination with alcohol or other drugs are given with the age and sex of each victim and with the coroner's findings. The significance of these levels is discussed. Tissue homogenates were digested either by strong acid or enzymically by subtilisin and extracted with dichloromethane or 1-chlorobutane, respectively. Blood was buffered to pH 9 and extracted directly with 1-chlorobutane. Recoveries are reported. Verapamil was quantitated by gas chromatography on a 3% OV-17 column with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector.