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An accurate and robust method involving liquid liquid extraction and capillary gas chromatographic (GC) assay with nitrogen phosphorus detection (NPD) was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of topiramate [2,3:4,5-bis-O-(-1-methylethylidene)-beta-D-fructopyranose sulfamate], Topamax, an anticonvulsant drug, in human plasma, urine, and whole blood. The galactopyranose analog of topiramate was used as the internal standard. A DB-5, fused silica capillary column (J&W Scientific, Folsom, CA) was used, yielding typical retention times of 4.95 min for topiramate and 5.32 min for the internal standard in human plasma. The assay involved organic extraction with methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) from base, a back extraction into acid and a second extraction in MTBE. The organic solvent was evaporated, and the residue was redissolved and injected for analysis. The standard curve was validated from 0.5 to 50 microg/ml(-1) for human plasma and whole blood, and from 1.0 to 50 microg/ml(-1) for urine. Peak area ratios of drug to internal standard were determined and used to construct a standard curve. The resulting chromatograms showed no endogenous interfering peaks with the respective blank human fluids. Chromatograms corresponding to topiramate and the internal standard produced sharp peaks that were well resolved. This assay showed precision and accuracy of < or = 5%. Two minor human metabolites of topiramate did not interfere with the assay. This assay was successfully applied to determine the pharmacokinetics of topiramate during the development of this drug.