Apparent stability of nitroglycerin in dextrose 5% in water

The apparent stability profile of nitroglycerin (NTG) in dextrose 5% in water when packaged in glass bottles and plastic bags was studied under the following conditions: room temperature (25 +/- 1 C) and room light, room temperature protected from room light, and refrigeration (4 C). NTG stability was assessed by monitoring drug disappearance from solution over a period of five hours after preparation of the admixtures. A spectrophotometric assay was used. There appeared to be no difference in the apparent rate of NTG disappearance when prepared in either glass bottles or plastic bags. Protection of the drug solutions from room light had no apparent effect on the disappearance pattern of NTG. Furthermore, although refrigeration of the NTG solutions appeared to increase the stability of the admixtures, this effect was not seen until approximately four to five hours after preparation of the solutions. It is possible that sorption onto the walls of the glass bottles and plastic bags may account for the observed disappearance of admixed NTG in dextrose 5% in water.