The metabolism of mebeverine in man: identification of urinary metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

The urinary metabolites of orally administered mebeverine hydrochloride (270 mg) were studied in five healthy volunteers with the aid of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Mebeverine, which is an ester of veratric acid and 4-(ethyl-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino)butan-1-ol, was completely hydrolysed to the corresponding acid and alcohol moieties. The acid moiety was subsequently O-demethylated to vanillic acid and isovanillic acid, which in turn were further O-demethylated to protocatechuic acid. The alcohol moiety was O-demethylated to the corresponding phenol 4-(ethyl-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino)butan-1-ol. In 24 hr, 44% of the dose was accounted for as follows: Veratric acid 32%, vanillic acid 2.7%, isovanillic acid 6.5%, 4-(ethyl-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino)butan-1-ol 0.9% and 4-(ethyl-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino)butan-1-01 2.1%. Only trace amounts of protocatechuic acid were found in the urine. The results indicated that the metabolites were mostly excreted as conjugates. The total excretion of the acid moiety, unchanged or in the form of metabolites was 97.6%. The corresponding value for the alcohol moiety was 5.5%.