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Forensic Toxicology
Published in: Forensic Toxicology 1/2017

Open Access 01-01-2017 | Review Article

Metabolites replace the parent drug in the drug arena. The cases of fonazepam and nifoxipam

Authors: Maria Katselou, Ioannis Papoutsis, Panagiota Nikolaou, Chara Spiliopoulou, Sotiris Athanaselis

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Fonazepam (desmethylflunitrazepam) and nifoxipam (3-hydroxy-desmethylflunitrazepam) are benzodiazepine derivatives and active metabolites of flunitrazepam. They recently invaded the drug arena as substances of abuse and alerted the forensic community after being seized in powder and tablet forms in Europe between 2014 and 2016. A review of all the existing knowledge of fonazepam and nifoxipam is reported, concerning their chemistry, synthesis, pharmacology and toxicology, prevalence/use, biotransformation and their analysis in biological samples. To our knowledge, fonazepam and nifoxipam-related intoxications, lethal or not, have not been reported in the scientific literature. All the available information was gathered through a detailed search of PubMed and the World Wide Web.
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Metadata
Title
Metabolites replace the parent drug in the drug arena. The cases of fonazepam and nifoxipam
Authors
Maria Katselou
Ioannis Papoutsis
Panagiota Nikolaou
Chara Spiliopoulou
Sotiris Athanaselis
Publication date
01-01-2017
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Forensic Toxicology / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-016-0338-5

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