A rapid method for the estimation of anti-epileptic drugs in blood serum by gas-liquid chromatography

A quantitative gas-liquid Chromatographic method is described for the estimation of serum concentrations of ethosuximide, methsuximide, phensuximide, mephobarbital, phenobarbital, primaclone, ethadione, trimethadione, diphenylhydantoin and carbamazepine. After extraction from serum, the anticonvulsants are determined without further purification by means of three different gas Chromatographic procedures carried out on one column at different temperatures and carrier gas flows, either with or without derivative formation by means of flash heater methylation. The method has the advantage that almost every group of anti-epileptic drugs can be examined under optimal conditions on the same column, although the structures of the groups are rather different. Furthermore the method is rapid, sensitive and reliable.