Simultaneous determination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and their main metabolites in human breast milk by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

A bioanalytical method by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS), adapted from a previously published method in plasma, was validated in breast milk for the simultaneous quantification of all antidepressants belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline) and their major metabolites (desmethylcitalopram and norfluoxetine). Milk samples (250μl) first underwent protein precipitation followed by solid-phase extraction on a reversed phase/cation exchange sorbent. Analytes were thereafter separated on a XBridge C18 column (2.

Stereoselective determination of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram in human plasma and breast milk by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous, stereoselective quantification of the antidepressant citalopram and its active metabolite desmethylcitalopram in human plasma and breast milk. Sample preparation was performed by a two-step approach, including generic protein precipitation with acetonitrile followed by solid phase extraction. Enantiospecific separation of analytes was achieved on a Phenomenex Lux Cellulose-2 column (4.