Analysis of Co-trimoxazole Products on the Kenyan Market

I O Kibwage; C O Ondari; I G Mureithi; J K Thuranira; J Hoogmartens

I O Kibwage Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nairobi
C O Ondari Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, University of Nairobi
I G Mureithi Laboratorium voor Farmaceutische Chemie, K. U. Leuven, E. van Evenstmat 4, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium
J K Thuranira Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nairobi
J Hoogmartens Laboratorium voor Farmaceutische Chemie, K. U. Leuven, E. van Evenstmat 4, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Keywords: Co-trimoxazole, Quality Assurance, Analysis.

Abstract

The content of Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim preparations were evaluated using the official British Pharmacopoeia method and a liquid chromatographic method. The two methods were shown to give similar performances and were used alternately. Twenty two tablet samples from 16 products were analysed of which 7 failed the requirements of content. Fifteen Co-trimoxazole suspensibn samples from 11 products were analysed of which 4 failed the content requirements. There were variations in chemical content amongst batches of same product. Failure rate amongst samples was 31% for imported and 22% for locally manufactured tablets and 50% for imported and 11% for locally manufactured suspensions.