Determination of dimenhydrinate in human plasma by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a relative bioavailability study

Here we present a sensitive and specific liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantification of dimenhydrinate (I) in human plasma. Sample preparation is conducted using citalopram (II) addition as an internal standard (IS), liquid–liquid extraction with basified plasma using a mixture hexane/acetate (1:1, v/v) as the extracting solvent, and the final extract reconstituted in the mobile phase. I and II (IS) were injected in a C8 column with the mobile phase composed of methanol:isopropanol:water:formic acid (78.00:19.92:2.00:0.08, v/v/v/v) and monitored using a positive electrospray source with tandem mass spectrometry analyses. The selected reaction monitoring (SRM) was set using precursor ion and product ion combinations of m/z 256.0 > 167.0 and m/z 325.0 > 109.0 for I and II, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.4 ng/mL, the dynamic range being 0.4–200 ng/mL. Validation results on linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision and stability, as well as on application to the analysis of plasma samples taken up to 24 h after oral administration of 100 mg of dimenhydrinate in healthy volunteers demonstrated its applicability to bioavailability studies.