Simultaneous determination of propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol in plasma by mass fragmentography

A quantitative method for the simultaneous determination of propranolol and its active metabolite 4-hydroxypropranolol in human plasma is described. Plasma samples are extracted at pH 9.6 with ethyl acetate after the addition of sodium bisulphite and the internal standard oxprenolol. The extracts are derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride before separation on a gas chromatograph--mass spectrometer. Detection and quantitation of the trifluoroacetyl derivatives are made by single-ion monitoring. The minimum detectable concentration of propranolol is 1 ng/ml and of 4-hydroxypropranolol 5 ng/ml using 1-ml plasma samples. No interferences from normal plasma constituents or from drugs commonly prescribed together with propranolol were detected.