EFFECT OF STORAGE CONDITION AND TEMPERATURE ON THE FRIABILITY AND UV ABSORPTION SPECTRUM

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of drugs is directly related to their quality, hence quality evaluations of medications throughout the production and distribution process are essential. Drugs are exposed to various conditions that are inevitable in their lifespan or shelf-life. These conditions are often met in the course of distribution and storage. Quality, potency, and efficacy of drugs are important to the manufacturer, distributor, and eminently the consumer. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of these conditions on the friability and stability of paracetamol tablets. Four brands of paracetamol tablets obtained from pharmacy stores within Benin metropolis were used in the study. They were subjected to different elevated temperatures using a thermostated Wincom model H H – 600 water bath at 35, 45, 55, and 65°C for one hour after which their friability was tested. They were also kept in the refrigerator and tested at 5, 10, 15, and 20-day intervals for each of the brands. The test was conducted following standard British Pharmacopeia (BP) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) procedures for friability tests. All samples complied with (BP) and (USP) requirements of not more than 0.5-1.0% weight loss. The amount of degradation product was calculated with the help of UV/ VIS spectrophotometer.