In - vitro assessment of six brands of glibenclamide tablets marketed in Jos Metropolis

Abstract

Qualitative, safe and efficacious anti-diabetic drugs are necessary to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a global public health concern. Glibenclamide is a drug of first choice in the treatment of diabetes, hence the question about the substitutionability of its various brands deserve to be investigated. Six brands of glibenclamide tablets were obtained from Community and Hospital Pharmacies in Jos metropolis. The brands were assessed for tablet properties such as weight variation, crushing strength, friability, disintegration time and dissolution profile. The results showed that all the brands passed these parameters according to official limits. However, the results of the f₁ and f₂ for brands E and F were 23.6 / 39.4 and 17.2 / 46.1 respectively. These values were outside the allowable limits and indicate that the brands are different and dissimilar with the innovator brand, Daonil, hence cannot be used as substitute for the innovator brand.

Keywords: Glibenclamide tablet brands and generics, diabetics mellitus, substitutionability, tablet properties and quality