title: Gas chromatographic determination of hydrocodone in serum.
abstract: A procedure for the determination of hydrocodone (dihydrocodeinone) in serum has been developed. Hydrocodone and N-isobutyldihydronorcodeinone, the internal standard, are extracted from serum by chloroform-isopropyl alcohol (9:1, v/v). The extracts are purified by back-extraction into 0.1 N sulfuric acid and a final basic extraction into benzene. The pentafluorophenylhydrazone derivatives are formed and determined using electron capture gas chromatography. As little as 1 ng/ml of hydrocodone in serum can be determined. A closely related compound and potential metabolite, dihydronorcodeinone, does not interfere. Serum hydrocodone levels were determined in dogs after oral and intravenous doses of 0.5 mg/kg, and in humans after a 10-mg oral dose of the bitartrate. A mean peak serum drug concentration of 23.6 ng/ml and a terminal half-life of 3.8 h resulted from the human study. The terminal half-life in serum was 1.8 h after the intravenous dose in dogs.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006853:Hydrocodone; D003061:Codeine