title: Pralidoxime chloride stability-indicating assay and analysis of solution samples stored at room temperature for ten years.
abstract: A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for quantitation of pralidoxime chloride and its decomposition products 2-carboxy-, 2-formyl-, and 2-(aminocarbonyl)-1-methylpyridinium chloride. These decomposition products and 2-cyano- and 2-(hydroxymethyl)-1-methylpyridinium chloride and 1-methyl-2(1H)-pyridinone were separated from pralidoxime chloride on a silica gel column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile:water (86:14) in which the aqueous component was 8.36 mM in tetraethylammonium chloride and 52.5 mM in acetic acid. This method allows quantitation of the relatively low levels of 2-formyl-1-methylpyridinium chloride formed in acidic solution at room temperature. Sensitivity was shown to be at least 5 ng of the pralidoxime chloride and 15 ng of the 2-carboxy-, 2-formyl-, and 2-(aminocarbonyl)-1-methylpyridinium chloride injected on column. The coefficient of variation was 4% or less for all components measured. Autoinjectors containing 300 mg/mL of pralidoxime chloride in water were stored at room temperature for 8-10 years, followed by analysis for hydrogen cyanide using an ion-selective electrode. Less than 15 micrograms of cyanide per autoinjector was detected. The HPLC analysis of the solutions after being stored an additional 3-4 years at approximately 5 degrees C demonstrated that greater than 90% of the total of all measured components consisted of pralidoxime chloride. The remaining percentage was made up of 2-carboxy-, 2-formyl-, and 2-(aminocarbonyl)-1-methylpyridinium chloride.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: DiGiovanni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Von Bredow
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Heiffer
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003486:Cyanides / Q000032:analysis; D004355:Drug Stability; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012996:Solutions; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003486:Cyanides; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds; D012996:Solutions; C028797:pralidoxime