Buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine concentrations in human breast milk samples determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract: Buprenorphine (BUP) is considered to be safe during pregnancy. However, the extent of BUP transfer into breast milk has not been thoroughly investigated. Since the drug concentration in the milk is one of the determinants in the assessment of the exposure risk, a rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method has been developed and evaluated to measure BUP and norbuprenorphine (norBUP) concentrations in milk. Recovery of the analytes by a solid phase and 2 liquid-liquid extraction procedures has been compared. The lower limits of detection and quantification were 0.05 ng/mL and 0.18 ng/mL for BUP, and 0.05 ng/mL…