STABILITY OF ALPRAZOLAM, CHLOROQUINE PHOSPHATE, CISAPRIDE, ENALAPRIL MALEATE, AND HYDRALAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN EXTEMPORANEOUSLY COMPOUNDED ORAL LIQUIDS

The stability of five drugs commonly prescribed for use in oral liquid dosage forms but not commercially available as such was studied. Alpr azolam 1 mg/mL, chloroquine phosphate 15 mg/mL, cisapride 1 mg/mL, ena lapril maleate 1 mg/mL, and hydralazine hydrochloride 1 mg/ mt were ea ch prepared in a 1:1 mixture of Ora-Sweet and Ora-Plus (Paddock Labora tories), a 1:I mixture of Ora-Sweet SF and Ora-Plus, and cherry syrup and placed in 120-mL amber clear polyethylene terephthalate bottles. T hree bottles of each liquid were stored at 5 degrees C and three at 25 degrees C, all in the dark. Samples were taken initially and at vario us times up to 60 days for analysis by high-performance liquid chromat ography and assessment of appearance and odor; pH was measured. A mean of at least 91% of the initial drug concentration was retained for 60 days in the alprazolam chloroquine phosphate, cisapride, and enalapri l maleate liquids. The hydralazine hydrochloride liquids retained more than 90%;, of the initial concentration for only one day at 5 degrees C when prepared with Ora-Sweet-Ora-Plus and two days when prepared wi th Ora-Sweet SF-Ora-Plus and for less than a day in these preparations at 25 degrees C and in cherry syrup at 5 and 25 degrees C. No substan tial changes in the appearance, odor, or pH of any liquid were observe d. Alprazolam 1 mg/mL, chloroquine phosphate 15 mg/mL, cisapride 1 mg/ mL, and enalapril maleate 1 mg/mL were stable in three extemporaneousl y compounded oral liquids for 60 days at 5 and 25 degrees C; hydralazi ne hydrochloride 4 mg/mL was stable at 5 degrees C for one day in Ora- Sweet-Ora Plus and for two days in Ora-SweetSF-Ora-Plus.