The Measurement of D-Fenfluramine and Its Metabolite, D-Norfenfluramine in Plasma and Urine with an Application of the Method to Pharmacokinetic Studies

Abstract

1. A specific and sensitive gas chromatographic assay is described for the measurement of d-fenfluramine and its de-ethylated metabolite, d-norfenfluramine, in biological fluids, together with some data on its application to the oral pharmacokinetics of the drug.

2. The analytical method developed has advantages over the previously described methods since it uses nitrogen specific detection and, when applied routinely, enables smaller sample volumes to be used (typically 1 ml of plasma) with a shorter chromatography time and an improved sensitivity (minimum quantifiable level of 2.5ng ml⁻¹).

3. Peak plasma concentrations of 22 and 24 ng ml⁻¹ of intact drug were reached at 4 h after an oral dose of ¹⁴C-d-fenfluramine hydrochloride (30 mg) given to two volunteers as part of a metabolism and disposition study. Subsequently, concentrations of intact drug declined monoexponentially with a half-life of approximately 13 h. Peak concentrations of 10 and 8 ng ml⁻¹ of the metabolite, d-norfenfluramine, were reached after 4 and 6h and were maintained as a plateau for a further 4—6 h. Assessment of the half-life of the metabolite could not be made because of lack of data on the terminal portion of the curves.

4. The urinary excretion of d-fenfluramine (6.0 and 10.6% of the dose) and d-norfenfluramine (5.8 and 8.8% of the dose) was low, indicating extensive metabolism of the parent drug.