COMPATIBILITY OF GRANISETRON TOWARDS GLASS AND PLASTICS AND ITS STABILITY UNDER VARIOUS STORAGE-CONDITIONS

We evaluated the compatibility of granisetron as an undiluted solution for injection, and diluted in 5% glucose or 0.9% NaCl, towards glass, polypropylene and PVC containers over a period of 15 days. The soluti ons were exposed to various temperature and light conditions. The gran isetron was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The re sults show that undiluted granisetron was stable in polypropylene syri nges during the 15-day period under all the storage conditions tested, i.e., light and ambient temperature, dark and ambient temperature, re frigeration at 4 degrees C. In contrast, variations in concentration w ere observed over time when the drug was diluted in 5% glucose or 0.9% NaCl irrespective of the container or the storage conditions. While u ndiluted granisetron at 1 mg/ml may be safely kept in polypropylene sy ringes, dilutions in 5% glucose or 0.9% NaCl should therefore be made up extemporaneously. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.