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Analysis of Selected Low-Dose Benzodiazepines by Mass Spectrometry

  • Chapter
Benzodiazepines and GHB

Part of the book series: Forensic Science and Medicine ((FSM))

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Abstract

The benzodiazepines discussed in this chapter are alprazolam, lorazepam, midazolam, and triazolam. They are all prescription medications that are used as anti-anxiety agents, preoperative medications, or as sedative—hypnotics (1). All are prescribed in very low doses (because of their potency), rapidly metabolized, and have short plasma half-lives (Table 1). Generally, they are biotransformed to hydroxylated metabolites and are excreted in the urine as glucuronide conjugates. Because the recommended therapeutic doses of alprazolam, lorazepam, midazolam, and triazolam may be 1 mg or less and the drugs are rapidly metabolized, plasma concentrations of the parent drugs and their metabolites are in nanogram per milliliter concentrations. Therefore, the detection and quantification of alprazolam, lorazepam, midazolam, triazolam, and their respective metabolites present a significant challenge to the analytical laboratory.

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Authors
  1. Dennis J. Crouch
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  2. Matthew H. Slawson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Roche Diagnostics Corp., Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Salvatore J. Salamone PhD

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Crouch, D.J., Slawson, M.H. (2001). Analysis of Selected Low-Dose Benzodiazepines by Mass Spectrometry. In: Salamone, S.J. (eds) Benzodiazepines and GHB. Forensic Science and Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-109-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-109-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-287-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-109-1

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