STEREOSELECTIVE DETERMINATION OF FLUOXETINE AND NORFLUOXETINE ENANTIOMERS IN PLASMA SAMPLES BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

The simultaneous liquid chromatographic determination of the enantiome rs of both fluoxetine and its metabolite norfluoxetine in plasma sampl es of treated patients is described. The compounds are subjected to so lid phase extraction before chromatography. The separation of the anal ytes is achieved using two chiralcel ODR columns on-line coupled and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-NaClO4 0.3M (66/34 v/v, pH 2. 5) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The compounds were detected by ultrav iolet absorbance at 220 nm. The limit of quantification for each compo und was 10 ng/mL.