Evaluation of Physical-Chemical and Microbiological Stability of Fluconazole Oral Suspensions for Hospital Use

Abstract

Fluconazole is an important drug in the treatment of cutaneous and systemic mycoses. The Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre performs a derivation of fluconazole capsules to obtain an oral liquid formulation that is easily administered and whose dose can be adjusted. In order to replace the derivation for a formulation produced from an active pharmaceutical ingredient, this study sought to develop a liquid oral formulation, evaluate its physical chemical and microbiological stability and demonstrate suitability of the analytical method for the formulation assay. Seven different formulations of pharmaceutical suspension form were produced and evaluated for pH, viscosity, sedimentation volume and assay. The analytical method by High Performance Liquid Chromatography was demonstrated. Two most promising formulations were manipulated in the Farmácia Semi-Industrial do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre and stored in amber PET bottles under three different conditions: room temperature, under refrigeration (2 to 8 ºC) and in an oven (40 ° C). Samples were collected after 0, 7 and 14 days to evaluate physical-chemical stability, assay, pH and macroscopic aspects. Samples were collected after 0 and 21 days to evaluate microbiological stability. It was possible to demonstrate stability for one of the formulations for a 14-day period. Throughout the study, the chosen formulation presented adequate quantification of fluconazole, constant pH, no organoleptic changes and no microbial growth. The results suggest the incorporation of a new formulation for fluconazole to the Farmacia Semi-Industrial portfolio).