A FATALITY INVOLVING 2 UNUSUAL COMPOUNDS ZOLPIDEM AND ACEPROMAZINE

A fatality due to ingestion of zolpidem, a recently developed nonbenzo diazepine hypnotic, and acepromazine, a phenothiazine sedative used in veterinary practice, is reported. Both drugs were identified and quan tified using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array d etection. Zolpidem and acepromazine blood concentrations were 3.29 and 2.40 mug/ml, respectively. It is the first report of a death involvin g either of these two drugs. The results are discussed in the light of the existing literature and may suggest a reciprocal potentiation of the toxic effects of zolpidem and phenothiazines.