Gas chromatographic determination of zopiclone in plasma after solid-phase extraction

Quantitation of zopiclone and desmethylzopiclone in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorescence detection

A simple, reliable HPLC method using fluorescence detection (excitation 307 and emission 483 nm) was developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of zopiclone and its metabolite desmethylzopiclone in human plasma. Following a single-step liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes and internal standard (zaleplon) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reversed-phase C18 column. The lower limit of quantitation was 3 ng/mL for zopiclone and 6 ng/mL for desmethylzopiclone with a relative standard deviation of less than 5%. A linear dynamic range of 3-300 ng/mL for zopiclone and of 6-500 ng/mL for desmethylzopiclone was established. This HPLC method was validated with between-batch precision of 1.7-4.2% and 3.2-7.5% for zopiclone and desmethylzopiclone respectively. The between-batch accuracy was 99.4-111.5% and 101.6-104.8% for zopiclone and desmethylzopiclone, respectively. Frequently coadministered drugs did not interfere with the described methodology. Stability of zopiclone and desmethylzopiclone in plasma was excellent, with no evidence of degradation during sample processing (autosampler) and 30 days' storage in a freezer. This validated method is simple and repeatable enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.

Determination of zopiclone in tablets by HPLC and UV-spectrophotometry

Rapid, simple and accurate chromatographic (HPLC) and spectrophotometric methods for the determination of zopiclone in tablets were elaborated. Acetonitrile was found to be a suitable extraction solvent. The samples were chromatographed on Nova-Pak C18 column and UV detection at 304 nm. The elution was achieved isocratically with a mobile phase of 0.067 M phosphate buffer pH 7.95 - acetonitrile (55:45, v/v). Diazepam was applied as an internal standard. The method was validated for precision, linearity, accuracy and limit of detection. The recovery (mean +/- SD) in HPLC was 99.85 + 0.04% and in the UV-spectrophotometry 100.08 +/- 0.09%.

Simultaneous determination of zolpidem and zopiclone in human plasma by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detection

A simple, specific and selective method for the simultaneous determination of zolpidem and zopiclone in human plasma is described. After a liquid-liquid extraction, the extract is injected into a capillary gas chromatograph with an OV-1 fused-silica column coupled to a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The detection limits are 1 and 2 ng/ml for zolpidem and zopiclone, respectively. The method described is reproducible and linear over a range of concentrations, rendering it suitable for use for pharmacokinetic studies or toxicological evaluations. Absolute identification of the chromatographed compounds is accomplished by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry in both electron-impact and positive-ion chemical ionisation modes.