title: Stability of sulfadiazine oral liquids prepared from tablets and powder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the stability of sulfadiazine (SDZ) oral liquids prepared from tablets and powder at two temperatures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Solutions of SDZ 200 mg/mL were prepared from commercially available 500 mg tablets and powder in sterile water for irrigation. They were stored in amber glass bottles at 4 degrees C and 23 degrees C. The concentrations of SDZ were determined in duplicate by high-performance liquid chromatography at 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. The initial and final pH of solutions was compared. The recovery of SDZ from tablets was determined. A loss exceeding 10% of the initial concentration of SDZ was considered excessive degradation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The recovery of SDZ from tablets was 100 +/- 3%. The initial pH values were significantly different between solutions prepared from tablets and powder, 6.9 and 9.8 respectively. No significant difference was found between initial and final pH values for the two all formulations. Detectable change in odor was observed for the solutions stored at 23 degrees C. The solution prepared from powder was stable 3 days stored at 4 degrees C. Other formulations lost over 10% of the initial SDZ concentration within 2 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDZ 200 mg/mL oral solution prepared from powder could be used to facilitate drug administration to very young children by nurses but by taking account of its fast degradation.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, University Hospital of Jean Verdier, Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Umma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pathmanathan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Halgrain
authors.forename: Fouad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiadmi
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schlatter
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vermerie
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004355:Drug Stability; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011208:Powders; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets; D013411:Sulfadiazine