Simultaneous Analysis of Cimetidine and Ranitidine in Human Plasma by HPLC

Abstract

A rapid method for the simultaneous quantitation of the H₂-receptor antagonist drugs cimetidine and ranitidine in human plasma by isocratic ion-pair reverse-phase HPLC is described. The method involves a simple organic extraction step of the alkalinized plasma containing added internal standard followed by back extraction of the extract with dilute acetic acid and subsequent analysis of the aqueous acidic phase on a reverse-phase (C18) column. The eluting solvent was acetonitrile-water (20:80 v/v) containing 0.005 mole/litre octanesulphonic acid and was monitored at 229 nm. The run time for the assay was 12.5 minutes, with a detection limit for cimetidine of 50 ng/m1/(0.2 μmole/1) and that for ranitidine was 20 ng/ml (0.06 umole/1).