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, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Louisiana State Univerisity Medical School in Shreveport, Shreveport, La.

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

Manno, JE
Associate professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport, Shreveport, La.

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


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: JFS201750038

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Author Manno BR, Baker JR, Manno JE, Hughes JR Title Identification of Flurazepam (Dalmane^®) and a Primary Metabolite in Urine by Thin-Layer Chromatography Symposium , Committee on