Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 30, Issue 6, July/August 2006, pp.365-369

Solid-Phase Column Chromatographic and Gas Chromatographic–Mass Spectrometric Determination of Heptaminol in Human Urine and Related Pharmacokinetic Profiles
Ying Lung Tseng[1,2], Chin-Hung Liu[2], Fan-Hsin Kuo[2], and Min-Hua Shieh[2]
[1]Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and
[2]Doping Control Center, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan

Heptaminol is an antihypotensive drug and is one of the stimulants banned in sport competitions. When heptaminol was fortified to a drug-free urine sample and subjected to solid-phase extraction, trifluroacetic anhydride derivatization, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, the results indicated three chromatographic peaks, with one major peak [peak 1 (P1) as heptaminol-2TFA], appearing at retention time 7.17 min, and two minor peaks [peak 2 (P2) and peak 3 (P3) as heptaminol-TFA], appearing at RT 5.87 and 5.81 min, respectively. The characteristic ions of peak mass spectra were m/z 322, 224, and 140 for P1, m/z 223 (molecular ion), 208, 140, and 110 for P2, and m/z 208, 140, and 110 for P3. The urine samples collected from healthy male volunteers who orally ingested a single dose (100 mg) of heptaminol were similar to the analytical results shown in the heptaminol-spiked control urine samples. This result suggested that the unchanged heptaminol was the sole form found in urine. The unchanged parent compound was completely eliminated in urine within 24 h and an average of approximately 97% of the dose was excreted through the renal pathway.

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