Detection of a novel compound after overdoses of aspirin and amoxapine.

The identification of a novel by-product in the tissue and fluid extracts of a victim of fatal overdoses of the tricyclic antidepressant amoxapine and aspirin is presented. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry suggested that amoxapine was transacetylated by aspirin to form N-acetylated amoxapine. When standard N-acetylated amoxapine was prepared and subjected to the same analytical testing as extracted tissues and fluids, the metabolite was identified as N-acetylamoxapine. Quantitation of N-acetylamoxapine was obtained by gas chromatography. Concentrations of N-acetylamoxapine compared to those of amoxapine and salicylates in blood, liver, stomach, and small bowel are given.