A study was undertaken to determine if humans excrete both amobarbital N-glucuronides and N-glucosides in urine after an oral dose of amobarbital. Amobarbital N-glucuronides were synthesized and characterized. A reverse phase LC method using past-column pH adjustment and UV detection at 240 nm was developed and used for the quantification of the amobarbital N-glucosides and N-glucuronides in human urine. Amobarbital was administered orally to seven male subjects and the total urine was collected for a period of 48-53 h after dosing. After filtration, the urine was injected directly onto the HPLC column to analyze for the presence of metabolites. The previously identified (5S)-amobarbital N-glucoside was detected in all seven subjects. The (5R)-amobarbital N-glucoside was detected at lower concentrations in only four of the subjects. At the levels at which amobarbital N-glucosides were detected, there was no evidence for the formation and excretion of the amobarbital N-glucuronides. Amobarbital N-glucuronidation is not a quantitatively significant pathway for the biodisposition of amobarbital in humans. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.