Detection and Determination of Gabapentin- an Anticonvulsant, from Body Fluids for Forensic Analysis Purpose

Gabapentin, chemically 2- {1- (amino methyl) cyclohexyl] acetic acid is a gamma-amino acid, a cyclohexane in which the amino methyl group and the carboxyl group are substituted at position one. The drug is extensively used as adjuvant therapy in treating neurotic pains, epilepsy, and seizures. The drug is available under brand names such as Neurontin, Gaborone, gralise, etc. It has been reported to be abused by opioid addicts in addition to its therapeutic use due to its anxiolytic and euphoric-like properties and easy availability in the market as a prescription drug. Scant research is available on the forensic examination of the drug under reference in body fluids. The present presents a method for the detection and determination of gabapentin from urine. The drug is not significantly metabolized in the human body and is excreted in the urine in its unchanged form allowing its qualitative and quantitative detection for forensic purposes. A weighed amount of the drug was spiked in the urine and extraction was performed using SPE cartridges. The extracted drug was detected using Thin Layer chromatography, Ultraviolet spectrophotometry and Triple quad LC-MS/MS.ICH Guidelines were used for the validation of the method. The reported method is sensitive and can be used for forensic detection and determination of gabapentin from urine in microlevels.