Parent and Metabolite Opioid Drug Concentrations in Unintentional Deaths Involving Opioid and Benzodiazepine Combinations*†‡

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Forensic Sci
• Personal Author:
  Fields, Marcia D. ; Abate, Marie A. ; Hu, Lan ; Long, D. Leann ; Blommel, Matthew L. ; Haikal, Nabila A. ; Kraner, James C.
• Description:
  Effects of benzodiazepines on postmortem opioid parent and parent/metabolite blood concentration ratios were determined for fentanyl-, hydrocodone-, methadone-, or oxycodone-related accidental deaths. These opioids are partially metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme system, which is also affected by diazepam and alprazolam. Opioid/metabolite combinations examined were as follows: fentanyl/norfentanyl, hydrocodone/dihydrocodeine, methadone/EDDP, and oxycodone/oxymorphone. Parent opioid concentrations were analyzed for 877 deaths. Parent/metabolite concentration ratios were analyzed for 349 deaths, excluding cases with co-intoxicants present known to interfere with opioid elimination. Alprazolam in combination with diazepam significantly decreased median hydrocodone concentrations by 48% (p = 0.01) compared to hydrocodone alone. The methadone parent/metabolite concentration ratio was reduced by 35% in the presence of diazepam compared to methadone alone (p = 0.03). Benzodiazepines did not statistically significantly affect fentanyl or oxycodone concentrations. Possible factors affecting opioid concentrations and possible toxicity development, including any differential effects on specific opioids, should continue to be explored.
• Subjects:
  Accidents Adult Aged Analgesics, Opioid Benzodiazepines Databases, Factual Drug Overdose Female Forensic Toxicology Humans Male Middle Aged Opioid-Related Disorders West Virginia Young Adult

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• Keywords:
  Accidental Death Benzodiazepines Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System Drug-drug Interactions Drug Concentration Forensic Science Forensic Toxicology Metabolites Narcotics Opioids
• Source:
  J Forensic Sci. 60(4):950-956
• Pubmed ID:
  26223761
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4944848
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  R49 CE002109/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U54 GM104942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHSUnited States/ ; 1R49CE002109/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  60
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:38ead42e69c7ee80e328bc2d5ff5cdb2bb63fe7f99a37b7a331d99b32cf68889
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/40352/cdc_40352_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 324.83 KB ]