metabolites

Metabolites are substances produced or modified during metabolism, which is the set of chemical reactions that occur within living organisms to maintain life.

Description: Metabolism involves two main processes: catabolism, which breaks down complex molecules to release energy, and anabolism, which uses energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones. Metabolites are the intermediates and products of these metabolic reactions. They can be classified as either primary metabolites, which are essential for growth, development, and reproduction, or secondary metabolites, which are not directly involved in these processes but may have other functions, such as defense or communication.

In the context of drug testing, metabolites play a crucial role. When a drug enters the body, it undergoes metabolic processes, primarily in the liver, which modify the drug’s chemical structure. These modifications often result in the formation of drug metabolites, which can be detected in biological samples such as urine or blood. The presence of specific drug metabolites can provide information about drug use, even if the parent drug is no longer detectable.

Examples of drug metabolites:

• Benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine)
• 11-Nor-9-carboxy-THC (a metabolite of THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana)
• Morphine (a metabolite of heroin)
• Nordiazepam (a metabolite of diazepam, also known as Valium)
• Amphetamine (a metabolite of methamphetamine)