ABSTRACT
Gabapentin (GP) is a structural analog of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid and is currently under investigation as a drug for the treatment of symptomatic generalized epilepsy. GP has been administered to patients with spasticity, migraine, and epilepsy in clinical research studies. The drug is currently undergoing active investigation for the treatment of symptomatic generalized epilepsy in children. GP is structurally unlike any currently available anticonvulsant agent. It is eliminated primarily in the urine as unchanged drug. Recovery was assessed by comparing peak heights of aqueous GP standards following derivatization relative to serum standards taken through the entire procedure. The quantitation of low amounts of gabapentin in serum requires derivatization with a UV-absorbing chromophore. The high-performance liquid chromatography method provides reliable quantitation of GP in serum over a wide concentration range. The method is suitable for use in pharmacokinetic studies involving GP.
