ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1976
Page Count: 10

Determination of Methaqualone in Urine by Metabolite Detection Via Gas Chromatography
Hilpert, LR
Research chemists, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,

Kazyak, L
Research chemists, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,

Permisohn, RC
Research chemists, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,

(Received 14 May 1975; accepted 23 June 1975)

Abstract

Pharmaceutical preparations of the sedative and hypnotic agent methaqualone have been widely prescribed and dispensed under a variety of trade names, including Quaalude^®, Sopor^®, and Parest^®. Cases of methaqualone abuse and overdose have been well documented [1–3]. The ready availability and frequent abuse of methaqualone have led to the development of methods of analysis for methaqualone and its metabolites in biologic fluids. Nowak et al used thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to study the metabolism of methaqualone in laboratory animals [4]. Only a small fraction of the dose was detected as the unchanged drug in the urine of the rat, while the major portion of the dose was hydroxylated and excreted as glucuronide conjugates. Preuss et al isolated twelve metabolites from urine of human subjects who had ingested methaqualone [5]. By comparison of these twelve metabolites with a series of synthesized monohydroxy derivatives of methaqualone they were able to identify five monohydroxy metabolites of the drug.

Keywords:

Paper ID: JFS10342J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10342J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.