Propoxyphene overdosage: a study of cases involving analgesic preparations containing dextropropoxyphene.

Propoxyphene and paracetamol concentrations have been determined in blood, urine, liver blood and stomach contents from 17 post mortem cases in which Distalgesic (a propoxyphene and paracetamol compound preparation) was involved. Five patients admitted to hospital with suspected Distalgesic poisoning have also been investigated. In most cases the propoxyphene concentrations, but not the paracetamol concentrations, exceeded the minimum lethal levels reported. On the basis of our results it appears that of the constituents of Distalgesic, propoxyphene has a far more immediate and dangerous effect than paracetamol.