ABSTRACT
Paracetamol also known as acetaminophen is a widely used antipyretic and analgesic agent. The therapeutic efficacy of pharmaceutical products depends on both microbial and physicochemical qualities of the products, hence, the need to routinely assess the pharmaceutical quality of the available brands of the tablets to ensure they conform to standard specifications. This study was done to evaluate the microbial and physicochemical qualities of 10 brands of paracetamol tablets sold in Nigeria. The purchased drug samples were evaluated for their uniformity of weight, crushing strength, friability, disintegration time, total viable aerobic count and content of active ingredient. These tests were performed by standard methods and techniques following official pharmacopoeia protocols. The investigated 10 brands of paracetamol tablets passed the standards of the British Pharmacopoea (BP) regarding microbial specifications. The tablets were uniform in weight with crushing strength 5 KgF – 12 KgF except a brand with crushing strength ranging between 15 KgF – 18 KgF and another brand which has no crushing strength. The disintegration times were within 15 minutes except a brand with a disintegration time of 27 minutes 44 seconds. Friability values were less than 1%. The % content of paracetamol as an active ingredient in the tablets ranges from 90-110%. 8 out of 10 brands of the paracetamol tablets assessed met all compendia standards. However, products of good quality can be guaranteed through quality control and adherence to the provisions of good manufacturing practices. Also, a routine sentinel market surveillance of pharmaceutical products is encouraged.
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