Stability of sotalol in two liquid formulations at two temperatures.
BACKGROUND
Sotalol is used in certain pediatric patients to treat, suppress, or prevent the recurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. However, it is commercially unavailable in a liquid dosage form. The use of an extemporaneously prepared liquid dosage form must be supported by the documentation of the chemical and physical stability of sotalol.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the stability of sotalol hydrochloride extemporaneously prepared from tablets in 2 oral suspensions stored at 2 temperatures.


METHODS
Five bottles contained Ora Plus:Ora Sweet (1:1) and the other 5 bottles had 1% methylcellulose:simple syrup NF (1:9), with a sotalol concentration of 5 mg/mL. Three samples were collected from each bottle at 0, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 91 days and analyzed by a stability-indicating HPLC analytical method (n = 15).


RESULTS
At 4 degrees C, the mean concentration of sotalol was at least 98.9% of the original concentration in Ora Plus:Ora Sweet suspension and 95.5% of the initial concentration in 1% methylcellulose:simple syrup during storage for 3 months. At 25 degrees C, the mean concentration of sotalol was >/=95.5% of the original concentration in Ora Plus:Ora Sweet suspension and 94.4% of the initial concentration in 1% methylcellulose:simple syrup during storage for 3 months. The pH did not change substantially during the study period. Further, no changes in physical appearance were seen during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Sotalol hydrochloride can be prepared in either of 2 liquid dosage forms and stored in plastic bottles for 13 weeks at 4 or 25 degrees C without substantial loss of potency.
Nahata
Milap C
MC
College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University and Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Morosco
Richard S
RS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D013015:Sotalol / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004304:Dosage Forms; D013015:Sotalol