Biliary excretion of reduced haloperidol glucuronide

Abstract

The biliary excretion of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol were investigated in the guinea pig. Bile duct cannulated guinea pigs were administered a single intraperitoneal dose of haloperidol (1 mg/kg). Bile was continually collected over a 12-h period. Aliquots of the bile samples were analyzed by HPLC for free haloperidol and reduced haloperidol. The remaining portions of the bile samples were incubated with beta glucuronidase and reanalyzed for haloperidol and reduced haloperidol. Although no significant amount of haloperidol glucuronide was detected in the bile, a new metabolite of reduced haloperidol, reduced haloperidol glucuronide, was found. The amount of reduced haloperidol excreted in the bile as the glucuronide conjugate was significantly higher than the amount of haloperidol or reduced haloperidol. These results imply that reduced haloperidol glucuronide may play a role in the disposition of haloperidol and/or its metabolite, reduced haloperidol.