Mixed ion pair liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous assay of ascorbic acid, caffeine, chlorpheniramine maleate, dextromethorphan HBr monohydrate and paracetamol in Frenadol sachets

The five active drug substances and two of the excipients present in Frenadol, a cold medication, were separated. The active drug components dextromethorphan HBr monohydrate, ascorbic acid, caffeine, paracetamol and chlorpheniramine maleate were quantitatively assayed by a mixed ion pair LC method. The excipients separated were citric acid and maleic acid. The HPLC assay included dual-wavelength detection to simultaneously quantify the large concentration of paracetamol and the much lower concentration of chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan. Both tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate (TBA) and pentane sulphonic acid (PSA) were necessary for resolution of the seven compounds. The TBA was necessary to lessen peak tailing for dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine, to retain ascorbic acid and to shorten assay time. The pentane sulphonic acid enhanced peak shape for dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine. The assay of the active drug substances was validated for use in quality control applications. Validation studies demonstrated that the procedure was accurate, linear, precise, reproducible and rugged. The method conformed to both USP and EC validation guidelines.

Evaluation of commercially available antacid tablets

Antacids are commonly used for the treatment of acid peptic disease. There is a need to study the relative merits of various brands of antacids available commercially. Twenty three brands of antacid tablet preparations were evaluated with regard to their composition, cost, dispersion time, pH, neutralising capacity and time taken for neutralisation. The cost of various tablets ranged from Rs 0.13 to Rs. 1.48 per tablet and the dispersion time from 20 to 90 minutes. The pH of the dispersed tablet solution ranged from 5.7 to 9.5. The neutralising capacity varied between 8 to 169 meq/tablet and the neutralizing time between 20 and 45 minutes. The cost: neutralizing ratio was calculated and ranged from 102 to 9867 x 10(-3) Rs/meq. A scoring system with a maximum score of 12 has been devised. The study provides a guide for choosing a more potent, quick neutralising and low cost antacid preparation.

Abuse of codeine separated from over-the-counter drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid and codeine

In Denmark a new trend concerning the abuse of codeine has been observed. Danish drug abusers have discovered that codeine is easily separated from certain drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid and codeine. When separated the codeine can be used either orally or intravenously. Three different drugs combining acetylsalicylic acid and codeine are available in Denmark, but codeine is only easily separable from one of these. Applying the same procedure to the two other drugs produces unpredictable or unfavourable ratios of codeine to acetylsalicylic acid. In several countries, however, similar drugs combining acetylsalicylic acid and codeine are available. It is not possible from a list of constituents to predict how easily codeine can be separated from a particular drug. Therefore it is strongly recommended that relevant drugs are tested at local forensic laboratories. In case codeine is found to be very easily separated from a product appropriate action should be taken.

Use of retail pharmacy for common cold preparations in urban Harare

The study was undertaken to estimate the most commonly utilised over-the-counter common cold medications in ten randomly sampled retail pharmacies in urban Harare. Data was collected prospectively with the aid of a purpose built ad-hoc questionnaire. The results showed that ASAFEN is the most commonly sold tablet formulation of common cold preparations and HISTALIX is the most frequently sold liquid dosage form. A review of the active ingredients in these formulations revealed that some of them are incorporated in subtherapeutic doses. The efficacy of these preparations is debatable. Children in the age group of 6 months to 10 years used mostly the liquid formulations while adults used both the liquid and solid dosages. Significantly (P < 0.05), more males than females bought common cold preparations.

An investigation into sugar-containing and sugar-free over-the-counter medicines stocked and recommended by pharmacists in the north western region of England

Sugar-containing paediatric medicines can contribute to the aetiology of dental caries, and as many are sold over-the-counter (OTC) as are prescribed. This study evaluated a dental health education initiative among pharmacists in the north-west of England in an effort to increase the sales of sugar-free preparations. It also investigated the stocks they held, their recommendations to their customers and their knowledge of, and attitudes to, sugar in medicine as a cause of dental caries. Following a baseline questionnaire, a randomly selected group of pharmacists were sent a dental health education leaflet informing them of the role of sugar-containing medicines in the aetiology of dental caries and a list of sugar-free alternatives which they were asked to stock and recommend. Twelve months later, a second questionnaire was completed by both the test and control groups of pharmacists. The most commonly stocked and recommended OTC paediatric medicines contained sugar. Of the 14 preparations stocked by over 90% of the pharmacists only two were sugar-free. During the year of the study the mean number of sugar-free medicines stocked by the pharmacists in the test group reduced from 7.70 to 7.12 (P < 0.05) and in the control group from 8.39 to 7.45 (P < 0.05). Seventy-seven per cent of the pharmacists thought that sugar in medicines could contribute to caries, but recommended sugar-containing preparations more frequently than sugar-free alternatives. The dental profession needs to actively promote medicines that are sugar-free if there is to be a change from the use of iatrogenic sugar-containing preparations.

Determination of the percentage purity, active ingredients and other parameters in paracetamol and chloroquine syrups

In this paper the percentage purity, active ingredients, specific gravity and the pH of paracetamol and chloroquine syrups were determined. For paracetamol the percentage purity ranged from 102.6-106.67, while the active ingredients (in mg/5 ml base) ranged from 123.2-128. The specific gravity ranged from 1.13-1.24 and the pH from 4.16-5.32. For the chloroquine the percentage purity ranged from 97-106.3, and the active ingredient 48.5-53.13, the specific gravity 1.17-1.27 and the pH 2.44-4.17. The results are discussed in relation to the purity, active ingredients and sources of the drugs. The drugs were coded. The paracetamol had a code of 1p-5p while the chloroquine was coded from 1c-5c.