Studies on uniformity of the active ingredients in acetaminophen suppositories re-solidified after melting under high temperature conditions.

The target of the present pharmaceutical study was the antipyretic analgesic, acetaminophen; its suppository form is usually split when used in pediatric patients. We focused on the active ingredient uniformity in these products, which were re-solidified after melting under high temperature condition. When sections of the cut surfaces of the seven acetaminophen suppository products (SUP-A-G) commercially available in Japan were visualized by polarized microscopy, acetaminophen crystals that were dispersed in the base were identified. The results of the quantitative determination of agent concentration for each cut portion (mg/g) suggested uniform dispersion of these crystals in the base of each product. The agent concentration in each portion of the suppositories that was re-solidified after melting at high temperatures was measured. Segregation of the active ingredient was observed in four products at a temperature of 40°C for 1 h, while active ingredient uniformity was maintained in the other three products (SUP-C, SUP-F and SUP-G). The latter three products also showed high viscosity at 40°C. At 50°C for 4 h, only the uniformity of the active ingredient in SUP-C was maintained. These results suggest that the uniformity of the active ingredient is lost in some acetaminophen suppositories that were re-solidified after melting under high temperature conditions. The degree of loss varies depending on the product.