Abstract We have determined drug/metabolite concentrations and ratios of methadone (METH) to two of its metabolites (EDDP, 2-ethylidene-1,
5-dimethyl-3, 3-diphenylpyrrolidine; and EMDP, 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyrroline) in postmortem peripheral blood and
liver tissue by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The assays employed deuterated internal standards and multiple
reaction monitoring (MRM) techniques. The assay linear range was 0.01–2.0 mg/l for each analyte. METH, EDDP, and EMDP were
determined in liver and peripheral blood from 46 methadone-positive cases. METH and EDDP were detected in all specimens, whether
blood or liver. EMDP was detected, only in liver, and only 17 cases, at concentrations much lower than those of EDDP. Concentrations
of METH and EDDP in blood and liver from EMDP-positive cases were in ranges higher than, but overlapping with, concentrations
in blood and liver from EMDP-negative cases. These data suggest that although METH is readily demethylated and cyclized to
EDDP, in vivo, conversion to EMDP may be less efficient and its accumulation in postmortem tissues may be highly individual.
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperDOI 10.1007/s12024-008-9039-7Authors
Terry J. Danielson, Harris County Medical Examiner 1885 Old Spanish Trail Houston TX 77054 USAAshraf Mozayani, Harris County Medical Examiner 1885 Old Spanish Trail Houston TX 77054 USALuis A. Sanchez, Harris County Medical Examiner 1885 Old Spanish Trail Houston TX 77054 USA
Journal Forensic Science, Medicine, and PathologyOnline ISSN 1556-2891Print ISSN 1547-769X (Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology)