[Identification of the drugs in the mixture using thin-layer chromatography in sudden poisoning cases].

The problem of acute intoxication has become very urgent now due to a great number of various chemical preparations accumulated during the last decades in the environment. Intoxications with psychotropic drugs and their mixtures form the significant part of the intoxications; there is an increasing tendency of intoxication with several preparations at a time. Amitriptyline and codeine are the preparations, which more frequently can cause intoxication. Fluoxetine is one of the newest and often used antidepressants. Under certain circumstances, like overdose, using all preparations together, long term using or using for suicide, these preparations can be even a cause of death. In such cases amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine become the objects of chemical-toxicological analysis. The possibility of the separation and identification of amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine in the mixture using thin-layer chromatography was established. Dragendorf reagent, modified by Munje, is most suitable for the spray-distinct of the chromatographic plates for all three substances. Amitriptyline research limit, using this developer, is 0.4 microg, fluoxetine--1.6 microg, codeine--0.8 microg. Most acceptable for separation the components of the mixture are 5 mobile phases: 1. Diethyl acetate-methanol-ammonium hydroxide (concentrated solution) (85:10:5). Amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine R(f) medium values respectively are 0.94; 0.63; 0.51. 2. Buthylacetate-methanol-ammonium hydroxide (concentrated solution) (85:10:5). Amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine R(f) medium values respectively are 0.65; 0.24; 0.15. 3. Cyclohexane-diethyl acetate-diethyl amine (70:15:15). Amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine R(f) medium values respectively are 0.93; 0.75; 0.37. 4. Cyclohexane-buthylacetate-diethyl amine (70:15:15). Amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine R(f) medium values respectively are 0.92; 0.51; 0.25. 5. Acetone-1,4-dioxane-ammonium hydroxide (concentrated solution) (30:68:2). Amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine R(f) medium values respectively are 0.82; 0.62; 0.42. Recommended methodology for the separation and identification of amitriptyline, fluoxetine and codeine in the mixture using thin-layer chromatography is statistically reliable: when confidence level is 0.95, relative error is less than 0.05; standard deviation is from 0.007 to 0.03. Recommended methodology suits for mixture, extracted from biological liquids, components separation and identification.