[The detection of guaiacol glyceryl ether, a content of many sedatives and hypnotics in the Federal Republic of Germany].

Guaiacol Glyceryl Ether (GGE) is well known as an expectorant in a large number of cough syrups etc. More recently it was used in surgery because of its activity as a muscle relaxant and its additive effect on narcotics. Today many of the sedatives and hypnotics in the BRD, which are available without prescription, contain GGE in doses of 50 mg to 250 mg partially combined with other sedative acting substances. With regard to the abuse of sedatives and hypnotics GGE therefore will be more important in future. The analytical data of GGE (for details see key words), extraction behavior and identification of TLC combined with quantitative determination by HPLC are described.