Methods for Study of Fluphenazine Kinetics in Man

Fluphenazine and its principal metabolites, fluphenazine sulphoxide, and 7-hydroxyfluphenazine were identified and quantified in human plasma, urine and faeces following intramuscular and oral administration of 14C-fluphenazine dihydrochloride. The presence of a conjugate fraction was also noted. Unmetabolized fluphenazine was selectively extracted into n-heptane. The metabolites were separated by solvent extraction into toluene. Conjugates were hydrolysed back to fluphenazine, fluphenazne sulphoxide and 7-hydroxyfluphenazine. Fluphenazine and fluphenazine conjugates were also measured in the urine of patients receiving long term non-radioactive fluphenazine decanoate therapy. The urinary excretion rate of the conjugate fraction was systematically related to the plasma concentration, regardless of urine flow rate or pH, providing a convenient method for the assessment of fluphenazine kinetics by urinary excretion studies not involving administration of labelled drug.