Metabolism and disposition of l-alpha-acetylmethadol in the rat.

The metabolism and disposition of the long-acting narcotic analygesic l-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) were studied in the rat. 3H-LAAM was administered to male and female rats at doses of 5 mg/kg po and iv, and 10 mg/kg po. LAAM was rapidly absorbed and extensively metabolized. Five metabolites-noracetylmethadol, dinoracetylmethadol, methadol, normethadol, and N-acetylnormethadol-were identified in plasma and urine. Feces were the major route of elimination for the parent drug and metabolites. Less than 20% of the administered dose was excreted in the urine and, of this, greater than 90% was in the form of conjugates or polar metabolites. There is an apparent sex-related difference in LAAM disposition in the rat. LAAM and metabolites tended to persist in higher levels in female rats as compared with male rats. Similarly, male rats tended to excrete the drug at a faster rate than did females.