Comparative in-vitro analysis of different brands of paracetamol tablets available in Nepal

Abstract

Objective: To examine the physico-chemical parameters of commercially available local and multinational brands of paracetamol tablets in Nepal. Methods: Different five paracetamol brands were explored by testing various parameters according to standard methods. The studied parameters included weight variation, friability, disintegration, dissolution and assay. The limits of the official test were referenced from official guidelines of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) and British Pharmacopoeia (BP). All brands were tested according to their pharmacopoeial claim and methods for these tests were successfully conducted to find out their qualities. Those methods were economic and authentic. Results: Requirements of weight variation and friability value were complied by all brands. Fifteen minutes of disintegration time were also complied by all the brands according to the BP/IP recommendation for uncoated tablets. All brands showed not less than 80% drug release in 45 min as per BP and not less than 85% in 30 min as per IP. Content of each brand was found to be within the range of 95%–105%. The present findings suggested that about every paracetamol brand which was accessible in Nepali market encountering the IP/BP requirements. Conclusions: Although the physico-chemical examinations such as weight variation, friability, disintegration, dissolution and assay were detected varying brand wise, but were found interior to defined limits. Being an over-the-counter drug, the consumption of paracetamol is too high. Therefore, it is important for each brand to be genuine, good manufactured and well marketed. So, additional exploration over the quality of paracetamol is compulsory for safe human consumption.