Physicochemical quality assessment of various brands of paracetamol tablets sold in Freetown Municipality.

Paracetamol is a widely used over-the-counter drug for managing fever and pain, but its quality may vary among different brands, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where counterfeit and substandard medicines are prevalent. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties of fifteen brands of 500 mg paracetamol tablets sold in various pharmacies in Freetown, Sierra Leone using identification tests, friability tests, assay, dissolution tests, and mass variation. The results showed that three brands were not registered with the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, and two brands did not meet the requirement for labelling (no manufacturing date).