AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease. I am already a well established and highly rated expert in the pharmacy section of this site.
Publications Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" Editions 1-4 published between 1994 and 2004 by Pearson Education, Australia. Author of the 5th edition published 2007.
Author of many scientific papers.
Education/Credentials BSc(Hons);MSc;PhD;HECert
Awards and Honors The 4th edition of my textbook was awarded the the Educational Book of the Year Award in Australia.
Past/Present Clients See my profile in the pharmacy section.
Question I recieved my sisters autopsy results which was ruled a suicide by tramadol. My sister was an RN and was found in her work bathroom non responsive with several empty tramadol packages near her body and 4 empty in her pocket and 9 full packages in her pocket. 2 hours earlier she told her husband to get the hot tub ready and get her something to drink because she wanted to come home and relax. She was not destrought and had 4 children in which she said nothing too. There was no note, she was at work and then suddenly went into the bathroom and did not come out. In her autopsy it said that there was 25 mg/k of tramadol in her liver, 16ml/l in her peripheral blood, no other drugs or alcohol was found. She had chronic pain and took tramadol all the time. Does those amounts prove suicide by it being an outrageous number? How long after ingestion would she have suffered respiratory depression? I can't believe she committed suicide with no reason and at work like that. Any answer on tramadol(ultram) would be helpful.
Answer Dear ReldA
I tend to agree with the autopsy results as I doubt these levels could have been obtained by therapeutic doses. Respiratory depression can occur within an hour of overdose. I am sorry to say this but many suicides do not leave notes nor indicate their intentions nor appear distraught. The many empty Tramadol packages, her chronic pain and her behaviour beforehand also leads me to the same conclusion.
