Determination of flunarizine in plasma by a new high-performance liquid chromatography method. Application to a
1Centro de Investigacíon Farmaceutica S.A., Laboratorios Hosbon S.A., Montanĩa 85-87, 08026 Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the study of the pharmacokinetics of flunarizine. The method involves selective liquid-solid extraction of flunarizine and meclizine (as internal standard) from samples of rat plasma. The optimization of the extraction and HPLC separation parameters are discussed. Recoveries were satisfactory and the relative standard deviation for replicate assays was below 10%. The sensitivity of the method would allow the detection of flunarizine in plasma at 13 ng ml(-1). Kinetic parameters for a bioequivalency study between flunarizine and a liquid formulation (oral drops) have been evaluated; the relative bioavailability was 88%.
