Abstract
Author(s): JA. Avbunudiogba1*, J. Erebor2, OE. Cash -Torunarigha2 and MA. Iwuagwu2
A study of eight brands of piroxicam capsules (20 mg) sold in some parts of Nigeria (Delta and Edo states) was carried out. The purpose was to investigate the quality as well as the physicochemical equivalence of different brands of the product readily available in the Nigerian market. The products were sourced from different retail pharmacy outlets and subjected to various official tests such as weight uniformity, dissolution and chemical assay tests (using HPLC). All the eight brands passed weight uniformity test as specified by the British Pharmacopoeia. Two brands (B and G) were outside the specified melting point range for piroxicam. All the brands passed the dissolution test except brand B in which only 52% of the drug was released in 45 min. The drug chemical assay carried out showed that all the brands were within the USP specified range of drug content (97-103%). This study revealed that brand substitution on assumption of chemical equivalence may not give the desiredonset of action and subsequent therapeutic effectiveness It also demonstrated the need for manufacturers to adhere strictly to the principle of GMP. Post marketing surveillance must be intensified by both manufacturers and regulatory bodies to prevent the distribution of substandard drug products.