IR spectrophotometric assay of carbachol solutions

Carbachol ophthalmic solutions can be assayed by evaporating a measured volume, dissolving the residue in methanol, and scanning the carbonyl stretching frequency in an IR spectrophotometer using a cell with calcium fluoride windows. Methylcellulose and other formulation vehicle components do not interfere. The method is stability indicating with respect to hydrolysis. It affords a recovery of 99.5+/-0.51% (RSD).