Distribution of Methylone in Four Postmortem Cases

Disclaimer: The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army. Drugs derived from amphetamine, methamphetamine and their methylenedioxy- analogues, although being sold as p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of analytical toxicology 2012-07, Vol.36 (6), p.434-439
Main Authors: Cawrse, Brian M., Levine, Barry, Jufer, Rebecca A., Fowler, David R., Vorce, Shawn P., Dickson, Amber J., Holler, Justin M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Algorithms
Amphetamine
Baths
Benzodioxoles - analysis
Benzodioxoles - blood
Benzodioxoles - pharmacokinetics
Benzodioxoles - urine
Blood
Central Nervous System Stimulants - analysis
Central Nervous System Stimulants - blood
Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacokinetics
Central Nervous System Stimulants - urine
Data processing
Drug abuse
Female
Food plants
Heart
Humans
Liver - chemistry
Male
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine - analogs & derivatives
Methamphetamine - analysis
Methamphetamine - blood
Methamphetamine - pharmacokinetics
Methamphetamine - urine
Pyrrolidines - analysis
Pyrrolidines - blood
Pyrrolidines - pharmacokinetics
Pyrrolidines - urine
Salts
Stimulants
Tissue Distribution
Urine
Young Adult
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Summary:Disclaimer: The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army. Drugs derived from amphetamine, methamphetamine and their methylenedioxy- analogues, although being sold as plant food or bath salts, are being used as legal alternatives to scheduled amphetamine stimulants. These products often contain methylone, mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)-three amphetamine derivatives shown to have strong pharmacological effects. Four postmortem cases were analyzed for methylone, mephedrone and MDPV, with drug levels quantitated in multiple biological matrices. All four cases had detectable levels of methylone, with heart blood concentrations of 0.740, 0.118, 0.060 and 1.12 mg/L. Analysis of several tissue samples shows that methylone does not sequester in a particular tissue type after death. The average liver-to-blood ratio was 2.68. Two cases also had MDPV present, but insufficient data were collected to formulate a hypothesis on postmortem sequestration or redistribution. Two different extraction methods, as well as analysis of derivatized and underivatized methylone, show that the drug is suitable for analysis in either method. The cases are believed to show one instance of chronic methylone use, with a urine concentration of 38 mg/L.
ISSN:0146-4760
1945-2403
DOI:10.1093/jat/bks046