Determination of dosulepin and its metabolite: application of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

J Chromatogr. 1987 Apr 10;415(2):365-71. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)83228-4.

Abstract

Dosulepin, 11-(3-dimethylaminopropylidene)-6,11-dihydrodibenzo [b,e]thiepin hydrochloride, is a thio analogue of amitriptyline and is used for the treatment of anxiety and affective disorders. The present study developed a simple and sensitive procedure for the determination of this compound and its metabolite, northiaden, by a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Hydrodynamic voltammograms demonstrated an optimal applied potential at 1300 mV for both dosulepin and northiaden. A mobile phase consisting of 0.1 M acetate buffer-acetonitrile-perchloric acid-trichloroacetic acid (50:50:2:1.5) provided the best separation of the drugs. The extraction procedure, which used a heptane-isoamyl alcohol (99:1) mixture, was successfully applied with a recovery of over 90%. A preliminary pharmacokinetic study was performed by the proposed method.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biotransformation
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Dibenzothiepins / analysis*
  • Dothiepin / analogs & derivatives
  • Dothiepin / analysis*
  • Dothiepin / blood
  • Dothiepin / metabolism
  • Electrochemistry
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Kinetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Dibenzothiepins
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • northiaden
  • Dothiepin