The formulation and stability of erythromycin-benzoyl peroxide in a topical gel.
The combination of benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin is used for the local treatment of acne and available as a commercial preparation. Because of the stability problems of erythromycin an extempore preparation is required. The influence of storage temperature and non active ingredients on the stability of benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin in topical gel preparations for extempore compounding is described. A microbiological and an HPLC method were used to determine the erythromycin and the benzoyl peroxide concentrations, respectively. For a formulation compounded with hydroxyethylcellulose no stability problems were observed. For the formulation containing Carbopol 940, the levels of erythromycin varied over a wide range due to precipitation and aggregation of the drug during compounding.
Vermeulen
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Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Gent, Belgium.
Remon
J P
JP
Nelis
H
H
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004355:Drug Stability; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000737:chemistry*; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005079:Excipients; D005782:Gels; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D011145:Polyvinyls; C006912:carboxypolymethylene; D004917:Erythromycin; D002482:Cellulose; C002283:hydroxyethylcellulose; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide