Rapid analysis of phentolamine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A rapid liquid chromatographic method is validated for the quantitative analysis of phentolamine. Phentolamine exists in three forms for this investigation: as a mesylate salt, hydrochloride salt, and free base. In solution, phentolamine dissociates from its salt and is chromatographed as free phentolamine. This validation confirms the analysis of each form, which is simply based upon molar mass differences encountered in weighing. As such, both the United States Pharmacopeia hydrochloride and mesylate standards are used throughout this validation to demonstrate this equivalency. The validation demonstrates that this method may be used to quantitate phentolamine, regardless of its salt form.