Comparative Determination of Chlorpromazine
Hydrochloride Content in Multi-sourced Chlorpromazine
Tablets in Nigeria
Henry A Okeri, Peter O Alonge, Emadoye Etareri
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of
Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
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International
Journal of Health Research, March
2008; 1(1):
11-26
Received: 8-Feb-08 Revision received:
14-Feb-08 Accepted for publication: 5-Mar-08
Original Research
Article
Purpose:
Although different brands or unbranded chlorpromazine
tablets from multiple sources are available in Nigeria
today, they must all contain the same active principle
and satisfy the standards of quality, efficacy and
safety. This study is designed to check for possible
faking and adulteration of chlorpromazine tablets and
also establish the possibility of inter-brand
substitution based on drug content (chemical
equivalence).
Method:
The
determination of the chlorpromazine hydrochloride
content was carried using non-aqueous titrimetric and
spectrophotometric methods. Glacial acetic acid and
acetone were used as the non-aqueous solvent and
equivalence points were determined using visual
indicators and potentiometer.
Results:
The results obtained showed that all the brands analyzed
met the specification of the British Pharmacopoeia and
so contain acceptable amounts of chlorpromazine drug
content thus enabling possible brand substitution.
Statistical comparison showed no significant difference
between the results obtained by determining end-point
using visual indicators and the potentiometer.
Conclusion:
The use of the visual indicator method is recommended
for fast and accurate routine laboratory analytical work
especially in developing nations.
Keywords:
Chlorpromazine, non-aqueous titration,
spectrophotometric determination, potentiometry.