Simultaneous Gas Chromatographic Determination of Diazapam and its Major Metabolites in Human Plasma,Urine, and Saliva

Abstract

A glc analysis method was developed for the simultaneous determination of diazepam (I), and its major metabolites N-desmethyldiazepam (II), oxazepam (III), and hydroxydiazepam (IV) in human plasma, urine, and saliva. Medazepam (V) was used as the internal standard to control extraction efficiency and permit precise and accurate determination of I-IV. Extraction and glc analysis of physiological fluid samples in triplicate required only 40 minutes using the developed method. Three human subjects were given either 20 or 5 mg of I via oral administration and serial specimens of blood, urine, and saliva collected. All samples were analyzed using the developed assay method. Results indicate that the method could be applied to pharmacokinetic studies of I where plasma, urine, and/or saliva is to be monitored.