(L.A.) Jonathan Segal, 46, Ended His Life

Case Number: 1999-07631

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 46-year-old Caucasian male that occurred at his residence.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Jonathan Segal.

Manner of Death: Suicide

Cause of Death: Ethclorovynol Intoxication

Other Significant Conditions: Effects of Propoxyphene and Fluoxetine, History of Depression

RIP JONATHAN SEGAL (July 8, 1953 – November 10, 1999)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Wednesday at 6:08 p.m.

Ethchlorvynol is a GABA-ergic sedative and hypnotic/soporific medication first developed by Pfizer in the 1950s.

In November 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended against continued prescribing and use of the pain reliever propoxyphene because new data show that the drug can cause serious toxicity to the heart, even when used at therapeutic doses. FDA has requested that companies voluntarily withdraw propoxyphene from the United States market.

Propoxyphene is an opioid pain reliever used to treat mild to moderate pain. It is sold under various names as a single-ingredient product (e.g., Darvon) and as part of a combination product with acetaminophen (e.g., Darvocet).

The last time L.A. County saw a death from propoxyphene was in 2014, and before that once in 2012 and once in 2011. Before then, there were about five deaths a year from propoxyphone, in most cases due to accidental overdoses.