rfgdxm
09-19-2004, 12:16 PM
http://www.dextromethorphan.ws/california-...ug-overdose.htm (http://www.dextromethorphan.ws/california-man-polydrug-overdose.htm)
California Man Dies of Drug Overdose
By: Robert F. Golaszewski
(Published Sunday, 19 September 2004)
Erick Mark Myrman on 14 February, 2004 was found dead in his parent's home in Yucaipa, California according to the official San Bernadino County coroner's report. The cause of death is listed as "acute combined alcohol and drug (dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine) toxicity." A contributing cause of death "chronic drug abuse" is also listed. Dextromethorphan (commonly called DXM in scientific literature and by users) is a cough suppressant found in numerous OTC cold and cough medicines sold in the USA. Brands sold which contain just DXM include Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough Syrup, and Dexalone. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with anticholinergic properties, which is sold in the US under the brand name Benadryl. DXM at doses much higher than recommended is a very powerful psychedelic drug, which has been used by many people to trip since it was first marketed in the 1960s. Diphenhydramine (and other anticholinergics) at high doses is well documented to produce hallucinations, often indistinguishable from reality. The properties of alcohol are well known, and the blood alcohol concentration found in Erick's blood was 0.15%, which would be well above the legal limit to drive. The levels of DXM and diphenhydramine detected were way above what would be expected with a normal, therapeutic dose. The manner of death listed by the coroner is "probable accident". This means that the coroner was of the opinion that Erick likely took these drugs with recreational intent, and not to commit suicide.
The coroner's report lists no specific mechanism of death. However, a thorough physical autopsy was performed, and nothing particularly unusual was found besides the high doses of drugs. DXM is well documented to produce respiratory depression at high doses. Taking substantial amounts of alcohol along with the DXM would be expected to exacerbate this. As such, most likely the mechanism of death was respiratory depression leading to asphyxiation.
Also detected according to the toxicology report was the OTC pain killer ibuprofen (marketed under the brand name Advil, and other different brands), the prescription antidepressant venlafaxine (marketed under the brand name Effexor), and also temazepam, a prescription benzodiazepine marketed under the brand name Restoril. The primary indication for which temazepam is prescribed for is as a sleeping pill. Other benzodiazepines besides temazepam are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and other related drugs. As a class of drugs benzodiazepines have long been taken recreationally. It is unknown whether Erick took the temazepam therapeutically or with recreational intent.
According to the toxicology report: "These results would be consistent with an excessive and potentially fatal ingestion of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine and alcohol by a person also taking venlafaxine, ibuprofen and temazepam." Thus, while the high doses of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine and alcohol would be adequate to explain the death, it is possible that the venlafaxine, ibuprofen and temazepam which were also ingested somehow contributed to his demise.
One other significant factor is that the coroner's report states: "According to the subject's parents, the subject had a history of being addicted to Robitussin cough syrup. He had been sent to rehabilitation because of this problem earlier in the year." As he died on 14 February, that would mean he had just recently got out of rehab for DXM abuse.
California Man Dies of Drug Overdose
By: Robert F. Golaszewski
(Published Sunday, 19 September 2004)
Erick Mark Myrman on 14 February, 2004 was found dead in his parent's home in Yucaipa, California according to the official San Bernadino County coroner's report. The cause of death is listed as "acute combined alcohol and drug (dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine) toxicity." A contributing cause of death "chronic drug abuse" is also listed. Dextromethorphan (commonly called DXM in scientific literature and by users) is a cough suppressant found in numerous OTC cold and cough medicines sold in the USA. Brands sold which contain just DXM include Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough Syrup, and Dexalone. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with anticholinergic properties, which is sold in the US under the brand name Benadryl. DXM at doses much higher than recommended is a very powerful psychedelic drug, which has been used by many people to trip since it was first marketed in the 1960s. Diphenhydramine (and other anticholinergics) at high doses is well documented to produce hallucinations, often indistinguishable from reality. The properties of alcohol are well known, and the blood alcohol concentration found in Erick's blood was 0.15%, which would be well above the legal limit to drive. The levels of DXM and diphenhydramine detected were way above what would be expected with a normal, therapeutic dose. The manner of death listed by the coroner is "probable accident". This means that the coroner was of the opinion that Erick likely took these drugs with recreational intent, and not to commit suicide.
The coroner's report lists no specific mechanism of death. However, a thorough physical autopsy was performed, and nothing particularly unusual was found besides the high doses of drugs. DXM is well documented to produce respiratory depression at high doses. Taking substantial amounts of alcohol along with the DXM would be expected to exacerbate this. As such, most likely the mechanism of death was respiratory depression leading to asphyxiation.
Also detected according to the toxicology report was the OTC pain killer ibuprofen (marketed under the brand name Advil, and other different brands), the prescription antidepressant venlafaxine (marketed under the brand name Effexor), and also temazepam, a prescription benzodiazepine marketed under the brand name Restoril. The primary indication for which temazepam is prescribed for is as a sleeping pill. Other benzodiazepines besides temazepam are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and other related drugs. As a class of drugs benzodiazepines have long been taken recreationally. It is unknown whether Erick took the temazepam therapeutically or with recreational intent.
According to the toxicology report: "These results would be consistent with an excessive and potentially fatal ingestion of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine and alcohol by a person also taking venlafaxine, ibuprofen and temazepam." Thus, while the high doses of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine and alcohol would be adequate to explain the death, it is possible that the venlafaxine, ibuprofen and temazepam which were also ingested somehow contributed to his demise.
One other significant factor is that the coroner's report states: "According to the subject's parents, the subject had a history of being addicted to Robitussin cough syrup. He had been sent to rehabilitation because of this problem earlier in the year." As he died on 14 February, that would mean he had just recently got out of rehab for DXM abuse.