GC-MS TENTATIVE DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROXYTRAMADOL AS A METABOLITE OF TRAMADOL IN MAN

Abstract

The high concentrations of metabolites in the urine of tramadol abusers have made possible further investigation of the metabolism of this analgesic drug. In addition to the reported metabolites resulting from O- and N- demethylations, ring-hydroxylation has been detected in this work as a further route of tramadol metabolism. GC-MS and trimethylsilyl derivatization have provided the necessary data. Certain assumptions were necessary for corroborating the ring- hydroxylation route.