Simple and rapid HPLC method for simultaneous determination of multiple antiepileptic drugs in human serum

A very rapid, sensitive and reproducible HPLC method was developed for simultaneous determination of eight anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs): lamotrigine, primidone, ethosuximide, sulthiame, felbamate, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin and oxcarbazepine-metabolite (10-hydroxy-carbazepine) in human serum. Sample purification requires only protein precipitation with an appropriate reagent. Separation was by reversed-phase HPLC, using a C18 column, 20% acetonitrile and 40 mM phosphoric acid buffer as mobile phase. Column temperature was set at 50°C, and measurement was by UV detection at 205 nm. The inter and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV) ranged 1.13–7.10% and 1.14–8.49%, respectively. The absolute (measured) and relative (analytic) recoveries of the drugs ranged 96.7%–104.4% and 97.3%–106.1%, respectively. No interference with other common antiepileptic drugs and analgesics were observed. The method requires only 100 μl serum or less. It is very fast (sample preparation and analysis time approx. 23 min for all 9 AEDs), and suitable for routine clinical use, especially for epileptic patients on polytherapy.