title: Prolonged excretion of 7-aminoclonazepam in urine after repeated ingestion of clonazepam: a case report.
abstract: Urinary analyses of the metabolite 7-aminoclonazepam (7-AC) can be helpful in monitoring drug abuse and in the context of suspected drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSA). Only two studies have reported detection times of 7-AC in urine after a single dose of clonazepam, and no previous studies have reported detection times after repeated ingestions of clonazepam. This report describes along detection time of 7-AC in urine in the case of a 28-year-old woman with a two year history of daily drug abuse of heroin and clonazepam, who was admitted to a detoxification unit. Urinary samples were delivered every morning for 9 days. Screening analysis in urine was performed by immunoassay, and confirmation analysis by LC-MS/MS. 7-AC was detected for 9 days, and the concentration at day 9 was still high (97 ng/ml), compared to previously reported data. These results indicate that after repeated ingestions of clonazepam, 7-AC can possibly be detected for about 2-3 weeks after cessation, applying cut-off levels commonly used in drug testing programs and DFSA cases.
authors: Norwegian Institute of Public health, Division of Forensic Medicine and Drug Abuse Research, PO 4404, Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. lisews@gmail.com
authors: L W
authors: LW
authors: Storhaug
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Enger
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hjelmeland
authors: E L
authors: EL
authors: Øiestad
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Vindenes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine*; D006556:Heroin Dependence; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D018757:GABA Modulators; C020860:7-aminoclonazepam; D002998:Clonazepam