Plasma levels of trazodone: methodology and applications.

A sensitive (to 5.0 ng/ml) and specific method for analysis of the antidepressant trazodone is described. The method utilizes gas-liquid chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Applicability of the method is demonstrated by (1) a pharmacokinetic study in a normal volunteer who received 50 mg trazodone orally and (2) steady-state plasma level determinations of 2 patients receiving trazodone in the treatment of depression.