GLC determination of cyclobenzaprine in plasma and urine

A GLC determination of cyclobenzaprine in human plasma and urine is described. After extraction from alkalinized samples with heptane-isopentyl alcohol (97:3), the drug and internal standard were back-extracted into 0.1 N HCl and then reextracted into ether. Use of a lower homolog of the drug as an internal standard was effective in reducing variability. Drug concentrations as low as 25 ng/ml could be assayed with high precision. Plasma levels in humans given 40 mg po or iv ranged from 5 to 51 ng/ml; little unchanged cyclobenzaprine was present in the urine. The N-desmethyl analog of the drug was detected as a metabolite in urine.