Methamphetamine and Amphetamine Derived from the Metabolism of Selegiline

Abstract

Routine methamphetamine testing identified a urine specimen with inconsistent screening and confirmation results. The methamphetamine RIA screening test (Diagnostic Products Corporation) indicated a borderline positive specimen, while the achiral confirmatory GC/MS result showed 4690 ng/mL of methamphetamine and 1895 ng/mL of amphetamine. Analysis of the specimen after derivatization with S(-)-N-trifluoroacetylprolyl chloride showed only the presence of 1-amphetamine and 1-methamphet-amine. It was later learned that the individual providing the specimen had been taking Selegiline. Selegiline, (-) propynylmethamphetamine, is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is sold under the trade name Eldepryl. Its major metabolites are 1-methamphetamine, 1-amphetamine and N-desmethylselegiline. Urine specimens from other Selegiline users were obtained and analyzed. A characteristic metabolic pattern was noted, exemplified by a ratio of 1-methamphetamine to 1-amphetamine of about 2.8. This is in contrast to what is observed in the urine of individuals who ingest pure 1-methamphetamine, such as with Vicks Inhaler, where the 1-methamphetamine to 1-amphetamine ratio in the urine is usually greater than 8. Caution is advised when interpreting methamphetamine results without using a chiral identification technique.

Stereoselective screening for and confirmation of urinary enantiomers of amphetamine, methamphetamine, designer drugs, methadone and selected metabolites by capillary electrophoresis

“…Furthermore, the urinary enantiomeric ratio of A/MA can be of help in the identification of a parent drug. For example, A/MA enantiomeric ratios after selegiline intake were found to be between 0.37±0.42 ( [6], Fig. 8), whereas in urines of users of Vick©s Inhaler A/MA, enantiomeric ratios of 0± 0.12 were found [6,41].…”

Interpreting methamphetamine levels in a high-use community

“…Selegiline is a prescription drug used for Parkinson's disease and is metabolized to MA (Nishida et al 2006;Romberg et al 1995). The prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the United States is approximately 1 in every 120-180 people (McInerney-Leo et al 2004).…”

A rapid method for the extraction, enantiomeric separation and quantification of amphetamines in hair

“…The unambiguous identification of specific isomers can be extremely useful in forensic toxicology, especially for amphetamine, methamphetamine and related substances, where the enantiomeric analysis can indeed allow to draw conclusion with respect to both the origin and the metabolism of the target drug [17][18][19][20][21]. However, the enantiomeric composition of amphetamines and congeners in hair has only been subject of limited studies [10][11][12][13]22].…”