Methoxetamine and its metabolites: Postmortem determination in body fluids of human cadaver.
Journal of analytical toxicology January 31, 2024 Miroslava Bursová, Tomáš Hložek, Miloš Sokol et al. 5 citations
A 42-year-old man who used drugs died at home and his body was found two months later. Autopsy did not reveal an obvious cause of death, but toxicology screening using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry detected methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analog, and several of its metabolites in blood, urine, and gastric contents. MXE concentrations were 3.6 ng/mL in blood, 70.5 ng/mL in urine, and 18.0 ng/mL in gastric content. No other drugs or poisons were found, so despite the low blood level, MXE likely contributed to the death. The case shows that MXE and its metabolites can be detected in a decomposing body even after two months.