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Levomepromazine (L-2-methoxy-lO-/N-~-methyl-propyl-N',N'-dimethylamino/phenothiazine hydrochloride or maleate) has been used in psychiatry for some time as an alternative to chlorpromazine. Its usefulness and the doses necessary are about the same as with chlorpromazine. It is thus possible to use LPZ in patients who have developed toxic reactions towards chlorpromazine, but similar reactions (e.9. liver dysfunction, skin reactions, blood dyscrasies) are also seen in a few patients on LPZ treatment. The metabolism and elimination of LPZ is of interest for the laboratory control of therapy, diagnosis of intoxications and for a better understanding of the action of the drug. Phenothiazine drugs -sueh as chlorpromazine and promazine are known to be metabolized along several routes. Sulfoxides, demethylated products and glucuronic acid conjugates have been described (Alexander et al., Allgen et al. 1959. metabolism of phenothiazine analogues: AllgCn ef al. 1960b, Gillette el a/.) The appearance of conjugates implies previous oxidation, probably hydroxylation. As only low levels of phenothiazine drugs and metabolites are present in blood (Allgen et al. 1960, Davidson et al., Hansson & Schmiterlow, Henriksen et al., Salzman & Brodie, Schmiterlow, Walkenstein & Seifter), urine is the most suitable material to study in man. We have studied the 1 NozinanR produced by RhBne-Poulenc, S. A., France. The pure material (hydrochloride) used for standardization of analytical methods was supplied by AB Leo, HaIsingborg, Sweden. LPZ is used here as an abbreviation for levomepromazine.

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