Serotonergic Drugs, Their Postmortem Distribution in Man, and Their Effect on Serum Serotonin Levels.
Abstract
The discovery of multiple serotonin receptor subtypes has encouraged the development of drugs which possess more specificity of action than their earlier-developed counterparts. These drugs have been involved in an increasing number of fatalities in the State of Washington since 1995, which is an unexpected development considering their smaller side effect profile compared to that of older drugs. This thesis describes experiments on a range of drugs with serotonergic activity in an attempt to understand circumstances surrounding adverse drug reactions associated with them. Analytical methods using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection were first developed for tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic with serotonin reuptake inhibition ability, and its metabolites in postmortem blood. Derivatization was not required to isolate any of the compounds. These methods were applied to cases of suspected drug-related deaths and drug-impaired driving.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 09, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA320123
Entities
People
- Kabrena E. Goeringer
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology