Detection of acute overdose states by some antihypertensive drugs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method is developed for the detection of some antihypertensive drugs, atenolol, bisoprolol, enalapril, metoprolol, nifedipine and propranolol by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. It is also applicable to screening in clinical toxicology and the identification of both intact APDs and their metabolites. The chances that propranolol, bisoprolol, atenolol, enalapril, and nifedipine form some artifacts in the analysis are assessed. The structures of these compounds are elucidated and a mechanism of their formation in the chromatograph injector is proposed.