High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of moclobemide and its two major metabolites in human plasma

A selective, sensitive, and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of moclobemide and its two major metabolites, Ro 12-5637 and Ro 12-8095, in human plasma. Sample preparation (0.5 ml of plasma) involved solid-phase extraction (SPE) using Speedisk H(2)O-Philic DVB columns. Separations were performed on a Waters XTerra RP18 column (5 microm, 150 mm x 4.6 mm). The mobile phase consisted of 10 mM KH(2)PO(4) with 1% triethylamine (pH 3.9) and acetonitrile (83:17, v/v), and a flow-rate was 1.2 ml/min. The total run time was 13 min. UV detection was performed at 240 nm. Mean absolute recoveries were > or =90% and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for all analytes was 0.02 mg/l. Calibration curves were linear (r>0.995) over a wide range of the analyte concentrations in plasma; thus, the method is suitable for different clinical studies when large variations in the drug/metabolites concentrations are observed. During a 5-day assay validation procedure the accuracy and precision were tested and proven (relative errors (RE)< or =13%; intra-day coefficient of variation (CV)< or =7%; inter-day CV< or =13%). Many drugs frequently used in the target patient population were evaluated for potential interference in order method selectivity to be ensured. The assay has been used in a clinical pharmacokinetic study to assess steady-state pharmacokinetics of moclobemide and two metabolites in depressive patients on mono- and combined therapy.

Death following acute poisoning by moclobemide

A fatality due to ingestion of a reversible inhibitor of monoamine-oxidase A (MAO-A) is reported. Moclobemide is generally considered as a safe drug far less toxic than tricyclic anti-depressants. However, severe intoxications may result from interactions with other drugs and food such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anti-Parkinsonians of the MAOI-type (e.g. selegiline) or tyramine from ripe cheese or other sources. In the present case, high levels of moclobemide were measured in peripheral blood exceeding toxic values reported so far in the scientific literature. The body fluid concentrations of moclobemide were of 498 mg/l in peripheral whole blood, 96.3 mg/l in urine while an amount of approximately 33 g could be recovered from gastric contents. The other xenobiotics were considered of little toxicological relevance. The victim (male, 48-year-old) had a past history of depression and committed one suicide attempt 2 years before death. Autopsy revealed no evidence of significant natural disease or injury. It was concluded that the manner of death was suicide and that the unique cause of death was massive ingestion of moclobemide.

LC determination of moclobemide and three metabolites in plasma

Moclobemide and three metabolites were quantified using 1 ml of plasma and solid-phase extraction with Bakerbond CN column after the addition of nadolol as the internal standard (I.S.). Separation and detection the analysed substances were achieved isocratically with acetonitrile-methanol-0.067 M phosphate buffer pH 2.65-0.4% triethylamine (12.7:1.9:85:0.4, v/v/v/v), a Nova-pak C(8) column and UV detection at 230 nm. The lower limits of quantitation for moclobemide was 10 ng ml(-1), for M1 (Ro 16-3177)-8 ng ml(-1), for M2 (Ro 12-5637)-10 ng ml(-1) and for M3 (Ro 12-8095)-15 ng ml(-1) (as the metabolites). Accuracies calculated of three concentrations in each of three separate runs were between 84.55 and 93.68 for moclobemide, 83.28 and 92.30 for M1, 86.31 and 92.66 for M2 and 88.42 and 93.40 for M3. Precision data within day were between 5.71 and 7.50 for moclobemide, 2.91 and 6.58 for M1, 4.98 and 6.40 for M2 and 0.94 and 4.73 for M3.

Moclobemide: evolution, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacokinetic properties

The benzamide moclobemide is a reversible inhibitor of monoamine-oxidase-A (RIMA). It has been extensively evaluated in the treatment of a wide spectrum of depressive disorders and less extensively in anxiety disorders. While clinical aspects will be presented in a subsequent review, this article focuses primarily on moclobemide's evolution, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. In particular, the effects on neurotransmission and intracellular signal transduction, the neuroendocrine system, the tyramine pressure response and animal models of depression are surveyed. In addition, other CNS effects are reviewed with special respect to experimental serotonergic syndrome, anxiolytic and antinociceptive activity, sleep, cognition and driving performance, neuroprotection and seizures.