Extractive-spectrophotometric determination of amine-type stimulants and antidepressants with anionic indicator dyes

Amphetamines having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system, certain antidepressants, and slimming agents containing sibutramine bear the cationic amine constituents that can form colored ion-association complexes with anionic basic dyes (i.e. bromocresol purple (BCP), methyl orange (MeO), and eriochrome black-T (EBT)), and be extracted into organic solvents for spectrophotometric determination. The limit of detection (LOD, mg/L) of the tested amines varied within the following intervals: MDMA: 0.09–0.33; MDA: 0.14–1.43; fluoxetine: 0.09–0.24; sibutramine: 0.07–0.28, depending on the dye. The proposed rapid and cost-effective extractive-photometric method for MDMA, fluoxetine, and sibutramine was statistically validated against HPLC using ecstasy, prozac, and lida pharmaceutical tablets.