Metabolism of the benzodiazepines norflurazepam, flurazepam, fludiazepam and cinolazepam by human hepatocytes using high-resolution mass spectrometry and distinguishing their intake in authentic urine samples

ConclusionsBased on the results, hydroxy metabolites for norflurazepam,N-(hydroxyethyl), desethyl and didesethyl for flurazepam, hydroxy for fludiazepam and glucuronides andN-(hydroxyethyl) for cinolazepam are recommended for monitoring. While flurazepam, fludiazepam and cinolazepam were metabolised by hepatocytes at side chain, norflurazepam was not, which seems to indicate that hepatocytes have difficulty in modifying the benzene/diazepine rings of some 1,4-benzodiazepines. As for confirming the intake of norflurazepam, the urine ratio of 3-hydroxy-norflurazepam/norflurazepam might be the key; a high ratio might be correlated to norflurazepam intake, thereby enabling the differentiation.
Source: Forensic Toxicology - Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research