A methoxydiphenidine-impaired driver
Nicole Stachel, Andrea Jacobsen-Bauer, Gisela Skopp
International Journal of Legal Medicine March 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1280-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A single human subject driving under the influence of MXP |
| Keywords | Methoxydiphenidine Dissociative drugs |
| Key findings | MXP was detected in serum at 57 ng/mL in a driver presenting with amnesia, out-of-body experiences, bizarre behavior, and decreased motor abilities, alongside other drugs. |
Abstract
Methoxydiphenidine (MXP) was first reported in 1989 as a dissociative anesthetic but did not enter the market for pharmaceuticals. The substance re-appeared in 2013 as a new psychoactive substance. A case of driving under the influence of MXP is reported. The concentration of MXP has been determined from a serum sample (57 ng/mL) by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry following liquid-liquid extraction. In addition, amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and its major metabolite were present in concentrations of 111, 28, and 3 ng/mL, respectively. The subject presented with amnesia, out-of-body experiences, bizarre behavior, and decreased motor abilities. At present, information on human toxicity of MXP is not available. MXP is comparable in structure as well as in action at the N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor to phencyclidine or ketamine. Therefore, it is likely that MXP exerts similar severe psychotropic action in man. However, there is no information on the duration and intensity of MXP’s impairing effects, the interpretation of a particular concentration in the blood or serum, and its detectability in routine drug screenings. Confirmation analysis may be confined to cases where the police has specific intelligence that points to MXP use.