Stability of heroin hydrochloride in infusion devices and containers for intravenous administration

The stability of heroin hydrochloride in various drug-administration devices was studied. Heroin hydrochloride was supplied as the bulk powder by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and in the formulated dosage form by Evans Medical, Ltd. Stability was determined at concentrations of 1 and 20 mg/mL at room temperature (23-25 degrees C) and at 4 degrees C in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag, a disposable glass syringe, and two disposable infusion devices. Studies at both concentrations also were conducted at 31 degrees C in the disposable infusion devices. All experiments were conducted in triplicate. A validated, stability-indicating, high-performance liquid chromatography assay was used. Heroin hydrochloride remained stable for a minimum of 15 days in the PVC bag and the Infusor infusion device at the tested temperatures and concentrations. In the glass syringe, heroin hydrochloride was shown to be stable for a minimum of 15 days at both 1 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL if refrigerated at 4 degrees C, whereas at room temperature it was stable for a minimum of 7 days at 1 mg/mL and for 12 days at 20 mg/mL. In the Intermate 200 infusion device, heroin hydrochloride was stable for a minimum of 15 days at both concentrations and all temperatures except for the 1 mg/mL concentration at 31 degrees C. In the latter case, stability was for a minimum of two days. No substantial changes in physical appearance or pH were observed in any of the containers under the conditions studied. Heroin hydrochloride can be repackaged in the disposable glass syringe, PVC bag, and each of the disposable infusion devices for routine clinical use.