Mel Gibson - Module 14B - Case Study Flashcards
1
Q
What drugs was Mel on, and which is the likely culprit for his death?
A
Clozapine (Atypical antipsychotic)
Sertraline (SSRI)
Alprazolam (Benzodiazepine)
Triazolam (Benzodiazepnie)
Most likely culprit is Clozapine.
2
Q
What side effect of Clozapine makes it likely that it was the culprit?
A
Although Clozapine has a large therapeutic range, it has a dose independent side effect of decreasing the neutrophil count.
3
Q
How did mel Gibson likely die then?
A
Neutropenia from the Clozapine, coupled with his cold.
Unable to fight off the infection, he developed sepsis, leading to organ failure/death.
