STABILITY OF ACETAZOLAMIDE, ALLOPURINOL, AZATHIOPRINE, CLONAZEPAM, AND FLUCYTOSINE IN EXTEMPORANEOUSLY COMPOUNDED ORAL LIQUIDS

The stability of drugs commonly prescribed for use in oral liquid dosa ge forms but not commercially available as such was studied. Acetazola mide 25 mg/mL, allopurinol 20 mg/mL, azathioprine 50 mg/mL, clonazepam 0.1 mg/mL, and flucytosine 10 mg/mL were prepared In a 1:1 mixture of Ora-Sweet and Ora-Plus (Paddock Laboratories), a 1:1 mixture of Ora-S weet SF and Ora-Plus (Paddock Laboratories), and cherry syrup and plac ed In polyethylene terephthalate bottles. The sources of the drugs wer e capsules and tablets. Six bottles were prepared per liquid; three we re stored at 5 degrees C and three at 25 degrees C, all in the dark. A sample was removed from each bottle initially and at intervals up to 60 days and analyzed for drug concentration by stability indicating hi gh-performance liquid chromatography. At least 94% of the initial drug concentration was retained in all the oral liquids for up to 60 days. There were no substantial changes in the appearance or odor of the li quids, or in the pH. Acetazolamide 25 mg/ml, allopurinol 20 mg/mL, ana thioprine 50 mg/mL, clonazepam 0.1 mg/mL, and flucytosine 10 mg/mL wer e stable for up to 60 days at 5 and 25 degrees C in three extemporaneo usly compounded oral liquids.