title: Exploration of the metabolism of dihydrocodeine via determination of its metabolites in human urine using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography.
abstract: After single-dose administration of 40 or 60 mg of dihydrocodeine (DHC, in a slow-release tablet) to four healthy individuals known to be extensive metabolizers of debrisoquine, the urinary excretion of DHC and its four major metabolites, dihydrocodeine-6-glucuronide, nordihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine and nordihydromorphine, was assessed using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). DHC and two of its metabolites (dihydrocodeine-6-glucuronide and nordihydrocodeine) could be analyzed by direct urine injection, whereas the metabolic pattern was obtained by copolymeric bonded-phase extraction of the solutes from both plain and hydrolyzed urine specimens prior to analysis. The total DHC equivalents excreted within 8 and 24 h were determined to be 30.4 +/- 7.7% (n = 5) and 63.8 +/- 6.1% (n = 2), respectively, and only about 4% of the excreted DHC equivalents were identified as morphinoids. Furthermore, almost no morphinoid metabolites of DHC could be found after administration of quinidine (200 mg of quinidine sulfate) 2 h prior to DHC intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hufschmid
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Theurillat
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thormann
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011292:Premedication; D011802:Quinidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D011802:Quinidine; C014481:dihydrocodeine; D003061:Codeine