Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of amisulpride in human plasma: application to manage acute intoxication.

Amisulpride, a substituted benzamide derivative, is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic and is effective as maintenance therapy in patients with schizophrenia. For toxicological purpose, a rapid RP-HPLC assay was developed for the determination of amisulpride in human plasma. A linear response was observed over the concentration range 100-1000 ng/ml. A good accuracy (< or =5%) was achieved for all quality controls, with intra- and inter-day variation coefficients equal or inferior to 4.9%. The lower limit of quantification was 20 ng/ml, without interferences of endogenous components. This rapid method (run time <5 min) was used to monitor eight intoxications involving amisulpride.