Simultaneous determination of codeine and ibuprofen in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A procedure is described for the simultaneous determination of codeine and ibuprofen in human plasma following the administration of the two substances in a proposed combination dosage form. The two substances were extracted separately from plasma and then determined together by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a fluorescence detector. The codeine was first extracted from alkalinized plasma with hexane-dichloromethane (2:1, v/v) and then washed with sodium hydroxide solution. The ibuprofen was then extracted with hexane from the plasma acidified with sulphuric acid. The organic layers were collected, evaporated to dryness and the reconstituted residue was subjected to HPLC. The detection limit for codeine was 8 microg 1(-1) and for ibuprofen 1 mg 1(-1).