Conversion of Sertraline to N-Methyl Sertraline in Embalming Fluid: AForensic Implication

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) isoneof the antidepressant medications used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, andsocial anxiety disorder. The practice ofembalming a cadaver iscommon, yet it may createproblems forforensic toxicologists ifthe casewasnot previously suspected to involve drugoverdose. According to the Eschweiler-Clarke reaction, drugs containing a secondary amine group reactwith formaldehyde to give N-methyl derivatives. Sertraline hasa secondary amine group; therefore, wepredicted that it may reactwith formalin to give N-methyl derivatives. The stability ofsertraline informalin solution was studied at threedifferent concentrations (5%,10%, and 20%) andat threedifferent pHs (3.0, 7.0,and 9.5)fora period of 30days. Setraline and itsdegraded products were extracted byliquid-liquid extraction using chloroform, and the concentrated extracts were analyzed bygas chromatography