Concentration uniformity of extemporaneously prepared ranitidine suspension

The concentration uniformity of an extemporaneously prepared ranitidine suspension was studied. To prepare the ranitidine suspension, 36 150-mg tablets were pulverized and suspended in 180 mL of distilled water. This mixture was diluted with simple syrup to a total volume of 360 mL, resulting in a final ranitidine concentration of 150 mg/10 mL. Samples from each of three bottles that had been filled with 60 mL of the suspension were assayed for ranitidine content by high-performance liquid chromatography. The sedimentation of suspended ranitidine tablet particles was studied by visual observation of the setting process in 10-mL samples from the same batch. The overall mean concentrations (in milligrams per milliliter) of ranitidine were 14.53, 15.25, 13.92, 12.67, and 12.72 at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. Compared with baseline, the difference in the ranitidine concentration was not significant over days 0-7. The ranitidine concentration was significantly reduced during the following time intervals: days 0-14, days 0-21, and days 7-21. In the settling experiments, the mean time (+/- S.D.) for sediment to first appear on the test tube bottom was 14.67 +/- 5.35 seconds. Approximately 40-50% (mean level = 3.2 mm) of the total sedimentation level (mean level = 7.3 mm) was observed one minute after shaking. The uniformity of ranitidine suspensions compounded according to procedures described in this report possibly could be improved with sonication. The ranitidine suspension should be well shaken, the dosage should be measured immediately after shaking, and the suspension should be used within seven days of compounding.