title: A rapid and reliable method for extraction and assay of tricyclic antidepressant drugs in serum or plasma.
abstract: Because of their narrow therapeutic ranges and differing patient tolerances, the monitoring of tricyclic antidepressants (TADs) commonly prescribed for control of endogenous depression is highly desirable for the satisfactory treatment of patients. The majority of methods for analysis of TADs require multiple extractions from plasma with organic solvents, accompanied by obligatory centrifugation steps. We describe a simple procedure for the rapid extraction of serum TADs, with high recovery of the analyte drugs. It involves sample preparation using Analytichem 'BOND-ELUT' C-2 reverse phase columns, and analysis by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The method offers a quick, inexpensive and low-maintenance assay which is applicable to all the common tricyclic class drugs.
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000097:blood*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic