Spasmoproxyvon Overdose: A Case Report

A 20 – year old female commercial sex worker (CSW) was lying unconscious in a hotel room in Imphal on 29th Nov 2006. She was immediately rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Imphal, but was declared brought dead on reaching there; and her dead body was brought for autopsy to the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. On investigation, it was learnt from her colleagues that she was addicted to some allopathic drugs, which was believed to be Spasmoproxyvon (dextropropoxyphene, dicyclomine and acetaminophen). This was in concurrence with the findings in the stomach, and was later confirmed by analysis of the sample. Drug overdose deaths are common in this part of the world; however, all the victims were males who died mostly of heroin or other similar compound overdose. A couple of allopathic drugs have a good number of addicts in the small State of Manipur and Spasmoproxyvon is one such drug. At the same time, it is believed that the population of female drug users in the state of Manipur has risen to an alarming proportion. Hence, the unusual occurrence of such a female drug overdose death has been presented in this paper to highlight the gravity of the situation.