PHOTOCHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF COMPONENTS IN DRUG FORMULATIONS .1. AN APPROACH TO THE STANDARDIZATION OF DEGRADATION STUDIES

The lack of standardization of photochemical degradation studies of co mponents in drug formulations is reflected in the discrepancy of stabi lity data reported in the literature. The importance of the type of ph otochemical reaction (direct, attenuated, sensitized) involved, choice of actinometer and properties of the light source of the calculated p hotoreaction rate constant is discussed.