Death from Inderal

Now this mention of the drug Inderal was a little interesting:

A 35-year-old female with a history of cardiac problems was found dead. She had been prescribed 40 mg of propranolol (Inderal) to be taken twice daily. Autopsy revealed the presence of a green liquid in the stomach, but there was no anatomic cause of death. Toxicologic analyses of appropriate body fluids confirmed the suspicion that the deceased had ingested a massive overdose of propranolol.

And how about this one?

Jennifer Kairis, a sophomore at Rollins College, in Winter Park, Fla., died in March 1998 after taking a lethal mixture of Inderal, a heart medication sometimes prescribed to control migraines, and two different antidepressants before a fraternity party. According to city police, Ms. Kairis had prescriptions for the two antidepressants, but not for Inderal. The coroner's report showed that her blood contained more than twice the toxic amount of Inderal.

Police who investigated the death say that the combination that killed Ms. Kairis was unusual.

Or this one?

A case of acute intoxication with propranolol is reported. A 60-year-old man was found dead in his car with no evidence of trauma or signs of asphyxia. Near the car, a pharmaceutical box of Inderal, a pharmaceutical formulation containing propranolol, was found. The man was not under therapy with this medication, but circumstantial data suggested the use of this medicine by his sister. High blood levels of propranolol confirmed the suspected drug use and induced us to discuss the probable lethal mechanism of this substance.

Although, to be fair, it should be noted that if you take too much of ANYTHING you will die. Yes, ANYTHING. Think about it - drowning victims are people who overdose on water to such an extent that it gets into their lungs.

And, as David Byrne pointed out, air can hurt you too. (Hmm, wonder if Marie Osmond ever had to take Inderal?)

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