We describe two suicides due to phenytoin and pentobarbital intoxications using a commercially available veterinary euthanasia preparation (Euthasol), which is a combination of the two medications. The role of the circumstances and toxicology findings and testing are described. The detection of this combination of medications should cause the death investigator to consider suicide and to look for occupational access to this preparation.
BaseltR.. Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in man.7th ed.Foster City (CA): Biomedical Publications; 2004. 1254 p.
3.
PubChem: open chemistry database [Internet].Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine; c2014. Compound summary for CID 1775: phenytoin; [cited 2014 Dec 15]. Available from: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/phenytoin.
AlbertsonT.E.FisherC.J.Jr.ShraggT.A.BaseltR.C.. A prolonged severe intoxication after ingestion of phenytoin and phenobarbital. West J Med.1981; 135(5): 418–22. PMID: 7340137. PMCID: PMC1273279.
6.
LearyS.UnderwoodWAnthonyR.AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.Schaumburg (IL): American Veterinary Medical Association; 2013. 102 p.