A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for detection of hydroxyzine in human plasma after overdose

INTRODUCTION: Hydroxyzine, a piperazine H1-receptor antagonist, is effective in generalised anxiety disorder. For toxicological purposes, a simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed for the detection of hydroxyzine in human plasma. METHODS: A liquid-liquid procedure was used to extract the drug from plasma in the presence of an internal standard (clothiapine). The analysis was performed on a Spherisorb S5 C(8) analytical column with UV detection. RESULTS: A linear response was observed over the concentration range 20-1500 ng/ml. A good accuracy (bias<7.3%) was achieved for all quality controls, with intraday and interday variation coefficients inferior to 8.5%. The limit of detection was 10 ng/ml, without interference of endogenous components. DISCUSSION: This rapid method (run time<13 min) is currently used for poison management involving hydroxyzine.