Dicyclomine in the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) --a cause of death or an incidental finding?
Randall, B.; Gerry, G.; Rance, F.
Journal of Forensic Sciences 31(4): 1470-1474
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1198 PMID: 3783112 Document Number: 281751
We report a case of a small infant apparently dying of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with a postmortem blood dicyclomine level of 200 ng/mL. Review of the literature and the comparison with blood dicyclomine values from four rabbits given equivalent doses suggests that a blood dicyclomine value of 200 ng/mL probably is in the therapeutic range for infants. Although safely used for years for infantile colic, recently, the administration of dicyclomine has been related to acute episodes of apnea, seizures, and coma. In the absence of those acute reactions, we feel that a 200-ng/mL blood dicyclomine level in a child dying of apparent SIDS should not prevent categorization of the death as SIDS.