Short Communication: Comparative Quality Evaluation of Some Brands of Paracetamol Tablets, Suppositories and Syrups

Abstract

The present study assesses the quality and the physicochemical properties of paracetamol dosage forms (tablet, suppository and syrup samples) from different drug outlets in Addis Ababa. Identity, weight uniformity, disintegration and dissolution times, assay for active ingredient content and pH test (for syrup) were performed. Hardness and drug release (t50% and t90%) of the different brands of paracetamol tablets were also evaluated and compared. The study showed that none of the tablet samples did meet the USP specification for assay of active ingredient content. One of the syrup samples (Efferalgan®) tested, contained less than the specified amount of the active principle.

Keywords: quality evaluation, physicochemical properties, paracetamol dosage forms, drug outlets, Addis Ababa

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal Vol. 26 (1) 2008: pp. 59-64