Validation of a HPLC quantification of acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine in pharmaceutical formulations: capsules and sachets.

Acetaminophen, phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine are frequently associated in pharmaceutical formulations against the common cold. Their quantification presents several problems. A HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of these compounds in pharmaceutical formulations such as capsules and sachets, including the separation of impurities and excipients has been developed and validated. The selectivity of the method was also tested to be used if phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride were employed instead of phenylephrine. Final chromatographic conditions were a gradient elution, being solvent A: phosphate buffer 40 mM at pH 6.0 and solvent B: acetonitrile. At t=0, the mobile phase consisted of 92% A and 8% B and it changed with a linear gradient during 8 min to 75% A and 25% B. At min 8, it changed to 30% A and 70% B for 5 min and at t=15 min, it returns to the initial conditions (92% A and 8% B) during 1 min remaining at this composition until t=20 min. UV detection was performed at 215 nm for phenylephrine and chlorpheniramine, because at this wavelength sensitivity was higher than in other more characteristic wavelengths and it was necessary for the detection of minor compounds. For acetaminophen 280 nm was employed. Validation parameters permit to consider the method adequate.