ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1975
Page Count: 7

Identification of Flurazepam (Dalmane^®) and a Primary Metabolite in Urine by Thin-Layer Chromatography
Manno, BR
Pharmacologist, Medical Research, Veterans Administration Hospital, and associate professor, Louisiana State Univerisity Medical School in Shreveport, La.

Manno, JE
Associate professor, Louisiana State University Medical School i n Shreveport, La.

Baker, JR
Medical technologist, Clinical Laboratory, Veterans Administration Hospital, La.

Hughes, JR
Chief of Staff, Veterans Administration Hospital, La.

(Received 8 March 1974; accepted 18 July 1974)

Abstract

Flurazepam hydrochloride (Dalmane^®) is a relatively new hypnotic agent gaining widespread usage in adults as a “sleeping pill.” Flurazepam is structurally related to the diazebenzapine tranquilizers, diazepam (Valium®) and chlorodiazepoxide hydrochloride (Librium®) It is not classified by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations as a drug of abuse; however, any hypnotic, sedative, or tranquilizer which has widespread usage always has the potential for abuse. Until the recent mention by Sturner and Garriott [1] in their article on L-DOPA poisoning, few methods have been available for the detection of flurazepam in blood or urine or both with the exception of those by Swartz et al [2,3] and de Silva and Strojny [4]. A relatively simple, reliable method for the detection of flurazepam in urine could assist in identifying persons abusing or overdosed with the drug. This report describes a simple thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method for the qualitative identification of flurazepam in urine based upon the presence of flurazepam and a primary urinary metabolite, 7-chloro-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1,dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (FM).

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Paper ID: JFS10238J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10238J
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