D. Greenblatt, A. Locniskar, R. Shader
Sep 1, 1983
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0
Influential Citations
11
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Sleep
Abstract
Brotizolam, a thienodiazepine hypnotic, can be reliably and sensitively quantitated in human plasma using gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. After addition of an internal standard, samples are directly extracted into an organic solvent, evaporated, reconstituted, and chromatographed at 290 degrees C on a 1% OV-17 column. Sensitivity limits are 0.25 ng of brotizolam/ml of plasma. Six volunteers ingested single 0.25- and 0.5-mg doses of brotizolam on two occasions, and brotizolam concentrations were measured in plasma samples drawn during 24 h after each dose. Peak concentrations averaged 5.5 and 9.2 ng/ml at the two dose levels, and were always attained within 1.5 h after dosage. Elimination half-life averaged 4.4 h (range 2.6-6.9 h) and was independent of dose. Thus brotizolam is a rapidly absorbed hypnotic drug with a short elimination half-life.