Liquid-chromatographic procedure for simultaneous analysis for eight benzodiazepines in serum.

We describe an efficient extraction and liquid-chromatographic method for separating commonly encountered benzodiazepine drugs and their pharmacologically active metabolites. After a single extraction of the drugs from serum, chlordiazepoxide, demoxepam, N-desmethyl-chloriazepoxide, diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam, N-desalkylflurazepam, oxazepam, and prazepam can be resolved and quantified by using a C18 reversed-phase "high-performance" column and a ternary-solvent gradient system. Three separate solutions [60 mmol/L ammonium acetate (pH 7.69), 60 mmol/L acetic acid (pH 2.8), and acetonitrile] were incorporated into a gradient mobile phase such that changes in pH and solvent composition occur. Complete chromatographic resolution of the benzodiazepines resulted, permitting quantification of all within 15 min. The standard curve is linear to at least 8 mg/L for each drug, and the detection limit for each was 0.05-0.10 mg/L. The day-to-day precision for both high and low concentrations yielded CVs of 5 to 9%. Extraction of each drug from serum was 95 to 100% complete. Exogenous and endogenous interferences are minimal. Finally, we circumvented the instability problem of benzodiazepine standards in solution by using a simple reduced-pressure drying process that produces a working standard that is stable for at least nine months.