A fatal case of bupropion (Zyban) overdose

J Anal Toxicol. 2008 Mar;32(2):192-6. doi: 10.1093/jat/32.2.192.

Abstract

A sensitive and reproducible method for the identification and the quantitative determination of bupropion (BUP) and its major metabolites, hydroxybupropion (OH-BUP) and threohydrobupropion (T-BUP), was developed in blood and urine. The three compounds were extracted with a solid-phase extraction procedure followed by LC-ESI-MS-MS separation and quantification using decadeuterated lidocaine as internal standard. BUP and its metabolites were satisfactorily identified by multiple reactions monitoring detection. The limits of detection and quantification were determined at 5 and 10 microg/L, respectively, for each analyte. The intraday and interday coefficients of variability were lower than 11.9% for BUP and its metabolites. This method was applied to the forensic case of a 35-year-old male who died after a suspected ingestion of 30 slow-release tablets of Zyban. As samplings were performed at least 72 h after the drug intake, BUP had disappeared from blood, but OH-BUP and T-BUP were present at the concentrations of 5.8 and 30.4 mg/L, respectively. In urine, concentrations ranged from 42.9 mg/L for BUP to 617 mg/L for T-BUP. These results agree with the hypothesis of a successful suicide attempt.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / adverse effects*
  • Bupropion / adverse effects*
  • Cause of Death
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Drug Overdose
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Solid Phase Extraction
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods*
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Suicide*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Bupropion