LC–MS/MS quantification of levetiracetam, lamotrigine and 10‐hydroxycarbazepine in TDM of epileptic patients

Abstract

Background To minimize drug‐related toxicity and monitor dosing regimens, an ultra‐sensitive, simple and high‐throughput analytical method for therapeutic drug monitoring is required. A novel LC–MS/MS bioassay of levetiracetam, lamotrigine and 10‐hydroxycarbazepine in human plasma was established. The analytes were separated on a Hypersil GOLD™ C18 column under a 2.5 min isocratic elution after one‐step protein precipitation. MS detection was performed under electrospray ionization positive‐mode fitted with selected reaction monitoring. The validated ranges were 0.1–20 μg/ml for LTG, 0.3–60 μg/ml for 10‐hydroxycarbazepine and levetiracetam. The intra‐ and inter‐batches of precision and accuracy was within ±15%. The novel method met all other criteria. Conclusion: This method can be used to monitor drug concentrations and decision‐making in epileptic patients.