Simultaneous determination of dorzolamide HCL and timolol maleate in eye drops by two different spectroscopic methods

Two-component mixtures of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate were assayed by first derivative and ratio derivative spectrophotometric methods. The first method, derivative spectrophotometry, by the zero-crossing measurements, was used due to the drugs closely overlapping absorption spectra. Linear calibration graphs of first derivative values at 250.3 nm for dorzolamide hydrochloride and 315.8 nm for timolol maleate. The second method, is based on ratio first derivative spectrophotometry, the amplitudes in the first derivative of the ratio spectra at 242.9 and at 223.5 nm were selected to determine dorzolamide and timolol maleate in the binary mixture. Calibration graphs were established for 8.0-30.0 microg ml(-1) for dorzolamide hydrochloride and 3.0-24.6 microg ml(-1) for timolol maleate in binary mixture. Good linearity, precision and selectivity were found, and the proposed methods were applied successfully to the pharmaceutical dosage from containing the above-mentioned drug combination without any interference by the excipients. Vierordt's method was also developed for a comparison method.     

Simultaneous determination of paracetamol and methocarbamol in tablets by ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and LC

The application of the ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to the simultaneous determination of paracetamol (PAR) and methocarbamol (MET) in combined pharmaceutical tablets is presented. The spectrophotometric procedure is based on the use of the first derivative of the ratio spectra obtained by dividing the absorbtion spectrum of the binary mixtures by a standard spectrum of one of the compounds. The first derivative amplitudes were measured at 243.0 and 230.3 nm for the assay of PAR and MET, respectively. Calibration graphs were established for 2-30 microg ml for PAR and 2-36 microg/ml for MET in binary mixture. The detection limits for PAR and MET were found 0.097 and 0.079 microg/ml, respectively; while the quantification limits were 0.573 microg/ml for PAR and 1.717 microg/ml for MET. For the HPLC procedure, a reversed-phase column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (60:40, v/v), was used to separate both compounds with a detection of 274.0 nm. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 2 300 and 1.5-375 microg/ml for PAR and MET, respectively. The detection and quantification limits were found to be 0.42 and 1.4 microg/ml for PAR and 0.36 and 1.2 microg/ml for MET, respectively. The relative standard deviations were found to be less than 0.52%, indicating reasonable repeatibility of both methods. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in commercial tablets.     

Derivative spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods for determination of rofecoxib in tablets and in human plasma in presence of its photo-degradation product

Rofecoxib (I) has been determined in the presence of its photo-degradation product (II) using first derivative spectrophotometry ((1)D) and first derivative of the ratio spectra ((1)DD) by measuring the amplitude at 316.3 and 284 nm for (1)D and (1)DD, respectively. (I) can be determined in the presence of up to 70% and 80% of (II) by the (1)D and (1)DD, respectively. The linearity range of both the methods was the same (5.8-26.2 microg ml(-1)) with mean percentage recovery of 100.08 +/- 0.84 and 100.06 +/- 1.06 for (1)D and (1)DD, respectively. (1)D method was used to study kinetics of (I) photo-degradation that was found to follow a first-order reaction. The t(1/2) was 20.2 min while K (reaction rate constant) was 0.0336 mol min(-1). Both methods were applied to the analysis of (I) in bulk powder and in pharmaceutical formulations. Also a spectrofluorimetric method is described to determine (I) at very low concentrations (25-540 ng ml(-1)) where (I) is converted to its photo-degradate (II), which possesses a native fluorescence that could be measured. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of tablets containing rofecoxib as well as to rofecoxib-spiked human plasma.     

Simultaneous determination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride hydrochloride by ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography

Rapid, precise, accurate and specific ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatographic procedures were described for the simultaneous determination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride hydrochloride in combined pharmaceutical dosage forms. For the first method, ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry, the signals were measured at 285.7 nm for hydrochlorothiazide and at 302.5 nm for amiloride hydrochloride in the mixture, in the first derivative of the ratio spectra. The second method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on LiChrosorb RP-C18 column (5 microm, 20 cm x 4.6 mm) using 0.025 M orthophosphoric acid (adjusted to pH 3.0 with triethylamine (TEA)), acetonitrile (84:16 v/v) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min(-1). Detection was carried out using a UV detector at 278.0 nm. Commercial sugar-coated and laboratory-prepared mixtures containing both drugs in different proportions were assayed using the developed methods.     

Application of first derivative UV-spectrophotometry and ratio derivative spectrophotometry for the simultaneous determination of candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide

Two-component mixtures of candesartan cilexetil (CAN) and hydrochlorothiazide (HYD) were assayed by first derivative and ratio derivative spectrophotometry. The first method depends on zero-crossing and peak to base measurement. The first derivative amplitudes at 270.1 and 255.5 nm were selected for the assay of (CAN) and (HYD), respectively. The second method depends on first derivative of the ratio spectra by division of the absorption spectrum of the binary mixture by a normalized spectrum of one of the components and then calculating the first derivative of the ratio spectrum. The first derivative of the ratio amplitudes at 236, 250, 232, 267 and 280 nm were selected for the determination of (CAN) and (HYD), respectively. Calibration curves were established for 6.0-38.0 microg x ml(-1) for (CAN) and 4.0-28.0 microg x ml(-1) for (HYD) in binary mixtures. Good linearity, precision and selectivity were found, and the two methods were successfully applied to the pharmaceutical dosage form containing the above-mentioned drug combination without any interference by the excipients.     

Application of TLC-densitometry, first-derivative UV-spectrophotometry and ratio derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate

Three methods are described for the simultaneous determination of dorzolamide hydrochloride (DORZ) and timolol maleate (TIM) in ophthalmic solutions. The first method is based on application of thin layer chromatographic separation of both drugs followed by the densitometric measurements of their spot areas. After separation on silica gel GF(254) plates, using methanol-ammonia 25% (100:1.5 v/v) as the mobile phase, the chromatographic zones corresponding to the spots were scanned at 253 and 297 nm, respectively. The calibration function was established in the ranges of 2-18 microg for DORZ and 0.5-4.5 microg for TIM. The second method depends on first derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry, with zero-crossing measurement method. The first derivative values D(1) at 250.2 and 312.5 nm were selected for the assay of DORZ and TIM, respectively. Calibration graphs follow Beer's law in the range 10-64 and 2.5-16 microg ml(-1), respectively. The third method is based on ratio first derivative spectrophotometry. The signals in the first derivative of the ratio spectra at 244 and 306.2 nm were selected to determine DORZ and TIM in the mixture and calibration graphs are linear in the range of 5-40 and 5.0-17.5 microg ml(-1), respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these compounds in synthetic mixtures and in pharmaceutical preparations. The proposed methods are simple, rapid and suitable for quality control application.     

A comparative study of the ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry, Vierordt's method and high-performance liquid chromatography applied to the simultaneous analysis of caffeine and paracetamol in tablets

Two spectrophotometric methods and high-performance liquid chromatography were proposed for the simultaneous analysis of caffeine and paracetamol in a tablet formulation. The ratio spectra derivative method is based on the use of the analytical signals obtained by measuring at 267.9 and 291.0 nm for caffeine and 237.0 and 251.8 nm for paracetamol in the first derivative of the ratio spectra. Calibration graphs were prepared in the range 4-40 microg/ml for caffeine and 8-48 microg/ml for paracetamol. In Vierordt's method, A1(1) (1%, 1cm) values of paracetamol and caffeine were determined at 242.9 and 273.0 nm in zero-order spectra. The matrix for A1(1) (1%, 1cm) values was written and the amounts of both drugs were calculated by means of the program 'Matlab' software. The results obtained by these spectrophotometric methods were compared with the results of HPLC method.     

Determination of theophylline and ephedrine HCL in tablets by ratio-spectra derivative spectrophotometry and LC

Two methods are described for the determination of theophylline (THP) and ephedrine hydrochloride (EPH) in combined pharmaceutical tablet forms. The first method depends on the use of the first derivative of the ratio-spectra obtained by dividing the absorption spectrum of binary mixtures by a standard spectrum of one of the compounds. The first derivative amplitudes at 231.8 and 250.3 nm were selected for the assay of THP and EPH, respectively. Calibration graphs were established for 20-180 microg ml(-1) for THP and 10-50 microg ml(-1) for EPH. The second method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of methanol-water (40+60,v/v) (pH 3) with detection at 217 nm. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 5-150 microg ml(-1) for THP and 15-75 microg ml(-1) for EPH. The detection limits for THP and EPH were 0.73 and 0.92 microg ml(-1) by ratio-spectra derivative spectrophotometry and 0.59 and 0.86 microg ml(-1) by HPLC, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in laboratory-prepared mixtures and in tablets. The relative standard deviations were found to be less than 1.5%, indicating reasonable repeatibility of both methods.     

Determination of astemizole in pharmaceutical preparations using spectrophotometric methods

UV absorption and second derivative spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of astemizole in commercial pharmaceutical formulations containing this compound alone. Solutions of astemizole in 0.1 M HCl:methanol (1:3) were used in the methods and the linearity range was 4.6-45.8 microg ml(-1) in both methods. The mean recoveries and relative standard deviations were calculated and the method was applied to two commercial preparations marketed in Turkey. Results were compared with the literature method, HPLC. Also, two new spectrophotometric methods are described for the simultaneous determination of astemizole and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in their combination. In the first method, first derivative spectrophotometry, dA/dlambda values were read at selected wavelengths in zero-crossing points in the first derivative spectra of the mixture solution in 0.1 M HCl:methanol (1:3). In the second, ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry, analytical signals were measured at the wavelengths corresponding to either maximums and minimums for both drugs in their solution in 0.1 M HCl:methanol (1:3) in the first derivative spectra of their ratio spectra. The procedures do not require any separation step. The mean recoveries were found satisfactory in the methods.     

Chemometric and derivative methods as flexible spectrophotometric approaches for dissolution and assaying tests in multicomponent tablets

Two derivative spectrophotometric (ratio derivative spectra and algorithm bivariate calibration) and a chemometric methods (partial least squares, PLS) are proposed for the simultaneous determination of binary mixtures in tablet analysis and dissolutions tests, without prior separation. These approaches are successfully applied to quantify trimethoprim (TMP) combined with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) or sulfamethazine (SMZ) or sulfafurazole (SFZ) using the information in the absorption spectra of appropriate solutions. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 0.98-17.5 microg/ml for TMP, 0.95-17.2 microg/ml for SMX, 1.16-17.5 microg/ml for SMZ and 0.97-17.4 microg/ml for SFZ. The first derivative (1D) bivariate algorithm method involves the use of four calibration curves: two for each compound at two different wavelengths, selected by Kaiser's method. Similarly, the first derivative ratio spectrophotometry employs the linear relationship between the ratio spectra of the analytes and the concentration range. The results were compared with those obtained by PLS multivariate calibration. The calibration models from PLS were pre-treated by orthogonal signal correction and evaluated by cross-validation using the 'SIMCA-P 9' software. Synthetic mixtures of TMP and sulfonamides were used in five different sets for the validity of the calibrations. Mean recoveries for derivative ratio, derivative bivariate and PLS methods were found to be between 99.7% and 102.0% for TMP, 99.4% and 100.2% for SMX, 99.3% and 101.0% for SMZ and 98.1% and 102.3% for SFZ. The calibrations of the three methods were successfully applied to the assaying and dissolution of placebo and commercial tablets without any prior separation. More than 85% of TMP, SMX and SMZ were dissolved within 15 min. For SFZ, only 85% of the compound was dissolved after 60 min. In this study, the three spectrophotometric methods can be satisfactorily used for the quantitative analysis and for dissolution tests of multicomponent dosage forms.     

Spectrophotometric determination of indinavir in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations using bromocresol purple and bromothymol blue

A simple, sensitive and selective method for the determination of indinavir (IND) in bulk and in pharmaceutical formulations is described. The method is based on extraction of this drug into chloroform as ion-pair with sulphonphthalein dyes as bromocresol purple (BCP) and bromothymol blue (BTB). The optimum conditions of the reactions were studied and optimized. The absorbance of the yellow products was measured at 427 nm for IND-BCP and 420 nm for IND-BTB. The calibration graphs were linear over the range 4.0-60.2 microg x ml(-1) of drug in chloroform, using the two dyes. The composition of the ion-pairs was established by the molar ratio method. For IND the molar ratio was determined to be 1:1 by measurement of first derivative signals at 273 nm. A calibration graph was established for 3.0-70.6 microg x ml(-1) of IND for first derivative spectrophotometry. The developed method was applied successfully for the determination of IND in pharmaceutical formulations. The data obtained were compared the data given by first derivative spectrophotometry. No differences were found.     

Validated stability-indicating methods for determination of cilostazol in the presence of its degradation products according to the ICH guidelines

Sensitive and selective stability-indicating assay methods (SIAMs) are suggested for the determination of cilostazol (CIL) in the presence of its acid, alkaline and oxidative degradation products. Developing SIAMs is necessary to carry out any stability study. Stress testing of CIL was performed according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in order to validate the stability-indicating power of the analytical procedures. Stress testing showed that CIL underwent acid, alkaline and oxidative degradation; on the other hand, it showed stability towards photo- and thermal degradation. Two chromatographic SIAMs were developed, namely HPLC and HPTLC methods. The concentration range and the mean percentage recovery were 1.0-31.0 microg/ml and 99.96+/-0.46 and 0.6-14.0 microg/spot and 99.88+/-1.10 for HPLC and HPTLC methods, respectively. In addition, derivative spectrophotometric methods were developed in order to determine CIL in the presence of its acid degradation product; these were performed by using the third derivative spectra (3D) and the first derivative of the ratio spectra (1DD) methods. The linearity range and the mean percentage recovery were 2.0-34.0 microg/ml and 100.27+/-1.20 for the (3D) method, while they were 2.0-30.0 microg/ml and 99.94+/-1.18 for the (1DD) method. Also, two chemometric-assisted spectrophotometric methods, based on using partial least squares (PLS) and concentration residual augmented classical least squares method (CRACLS), for the determination of CIL were developed. Both methods were applied on zero order spectra of the mixtures of CIL and its acid degradation product, the mean percentage recovery was 100.03+/-1.09 and 99.91+/-1.27 for PLS and CRACLS, respectively. All methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and applied on bulk powder and pharmaceutical formulations.     

Comparison of spectrophotometric and an LC method for the determination perindopril and indapamide in pharmaceutical formulations.

A new sensitive, simple, rapid and precise reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and two spectrophotometric methods have been developed for resolving binary mixture of perindopril and indapamide in the pharmaceutical dosage forms. The first method is based on HPLC on a reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of phosphate buffer pH 2.4 and acetonitrile (7:3 v/v) was used. Linearity range for perindopril and indapamide was 5.0-70.0 and 8.0-35.0 microg ml(-1). In the second method, the first derivative spectrophotometry with a zero-crossing technique of measurement is used for the simultaneous quantitative determination of perindopril and indapamide in binary mixtures without previous separation step. Linear calibration graphs of first derivative values at 225.7 and 255.4 nm for perindopril and indapamide, respectively. The third method is based on ratio derivative spectrophotometry, the amplitudes in the first derivative of the ratio spectra at 226.5 and at 255.3 nm were selected to determine perindopril and indapamide in the binary mixture. All the proposed methods showed good linearity, precision and reproducibility. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the pharmaceutical dosage forms containing the above-mentioned drug combination without any interference by the excipients.     

Simultaneous determination of metronidazole and miconazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms by RP-HPLC

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method with UV detection is described for the simultaneous determination of metronidazole and miconazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Chromatography was carried out on a C18 reversed-phase column, using a mixture of methanol-water (40+60, v/v) as a mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 ml min(-1). Sulfamethoxazole was used as an internal standard and detection was performed using a diode array detector at 254 nm. The method produced linear responses in the concentration ranges 10-70 and 1-20 microg ml(-1) with detection limits 0.33 and 0.27 microg ml(-1) for metronidazole and micanozole, respectively. This procedure was found to be convenient and reproducible for analysis of these drugs in ovule dosage forms.     

Determination of miconazole in pharmaceutical creams using internal standard and second derivative spectrophotometry

A simple method is proposed for miconazole determination in pharmaceutical creams, based on extraction and second derivative spectrophotometry. In the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate (0.5%) and sulphuric acid (0.4 mol l(-1)), the miconazole and internal standard (IS) (methylene blue) were extracted to 100 microl of methylene chloride. The organic phase was evaporated in the nitrogen stream and the dry residue was dissolved in methanol (1.5 ml). The analytical signal was obtained as the ratio between second derivative absorbances measured at 236.9 nm (miconazole) and at 663.2 nm (IS). The use of IS in such multi-stage procedure enabled quite good analytical performance in calibration range 50.0 400 mg l(-1): linear correlation coefficient 0.9995, precision (measured as CV for ten replicates) at 50.0 mg l(-1) and at 400 mg l(-1) of miconazole was 1.5 and 0.5% respectively. Four commercial pharmaceutical creams were analyzed and the results obtained were in good agreement with the results obtained by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

Stability indicating methods for the determination of diloxanide furoate

Five new selective, precise and accurate methods are described for the determination of diloxanide furoate (DI) in presence of its degradation products. Method A utilizes the first and second derivative spectrophotometry at 270 and 280 nm, respectively. Method B is a RSD(1) spectrophotometric method based on the simultaneous use of the first derivative of ratio spectra and measurement at 270 nm. Method C is a pH-induced difference spectrophotometry using UV measurement at 295 nm. Method D is a densitometric one, after separation on silica gel plate using chloroform: methanol as mobile phase and the spots were scanned at 258 nm. Method E is reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography using methanol: water (80:20% v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 258 nm. Regression analysis showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 5-30, 5-25, 10-40 microg/ml, 100-500 ng/spot, 2-50 microg/ml with percentage recoveries of 99.92+/-0.56 and 99.79+/-0.47, 99.23+/-0.38, 99.96+/-0.06, 99.03+/-0.51, 98.81+/-0.68 for methods A, B, C, D and E, respectively. These methods are suitable as stability indicating methods for the determination of DI in presence of its degradation products either in bulk powder or in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and ibuprofen in a pharmaceutical preparation using ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry and multivariate calibration techniques

Spectrophotometric methods are described for the simultaneous determination of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and ibuprofen in their combination. The obtained data were evaluated by using five different methods. In the first method, ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry, analytical signals were measured at the wavelengths corresponding to either maximums and minimums for both drugs in the first derivative spectra of the ratio spectra obtained by using each other spectra as divisor in their solution in 0.1 M HCl. In the other four spectrophotometric methods using chemometric techniques, classical least-squares, inverse least-squares, principal component regression and partial least-squares (PLS), the concentration data matrix were prepared by using the synthetic mixtures containing these drugs in methanol:0.1 M HCl (3:1). The absorbance data matrix corresponding to the concentration data matrix was obtained by the measurements of absorbances in the range 240-285 nm in the intervals with deltalambda = 2.5 nm at 18 wavelengths in their zero-order spectra, then, calibration or regression was obtained by using the absorbance data matrix and concentration data matrix for the prediction of the unknown concentrations of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and ibuprofen in their mixture. The procedures did not require any separation step. The linear range was found to be 300-1300 microg/ml for ibuprofen and 100-1300 microg/ml for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in all five methods. The accuracy and the precision of the methods have been determined and they have been validated by analyzing synthetic mixtures. The five methods were successfully applied to tablets and the results were compared with each other.     

Validated stability-indicating derivative and derivative ratio methods for the determination of some drugs used to alleviate respiratory tract disorders and their degradation products

Derivative and derivative ratio methods are presented for the determination of butamirate citrate, formoterol fumarate, montelukast sodium, and sodium cromoglycate. Using the second derivative ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry, butamirate citrate and formoterol fumarate were determined by measuring the peak amplitude at 260.4 and 261.8 nm, respectively, without any interference of their degradation products. Butamirate citrate degradation product, 2-phenyl butyric acid, was determined by the measurement of its second derivative amplitude at 246.7 nm where butamirate citrate displays zero crossing. Formoterol fumarate degradation product, desformyl derivative, could be evaluated through the use of the first derivative at peak amplitude of 264.8 nm where interference of formoterol fumarate is negligible. In the first mode, the zero-crossing technique was applied at 305 nm for the determination of montelukast sodium in the presence of its photodegradation product, cis-isomer. The derivative of ratio spectra of montelukast sodium and its cis- isomer were used to determine both isomers using the first derivative of the ratio spectra by measuring the amplitudes of the trough at 305 nm and the peak at 308 nm, respectively. The later technique was also used for the determination of a ternary mixture of sodium cromoglycate and its two degradation products using zero-crossing method. In the derivative ratio spectra of the ternary mixture, trough depths were measured at 271.6, 302.8 and 302.2 nm, using the second, the first, and the second mode to evaluate sodium cromoglycate, degradation product (1) and degradation product (2), respectively. All the methods were applied successfully to the pharmaceutical preparation and were validated according to ICH guidelines.     

Comparison of derivative spectrophotometric and liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of rofecoxib

Two different UV spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of rofecoxib in bulk form and in pharmaceutical formulations. The first method, an UV spectrophotometric procedure, was based on the linear relationship between the rofecoxib concentration and the lambdamax amplitude at 279 nm. The second one, the first derivative spectrophotometry, was based on the linear relationship between the rofecoxib concentration and the first derivative amplitude at 228, 256 and 308 nm. Calibration curves were linear in the concentration range using peak to zero 1.5-35.0 microg x ml(-1). HPLC was carried out at 225 nm with a partisil 5 ODS (3) column and a mobile phase constituted of acetonitrile and water (50 :50 v/v). A linear range was found to be 0.05-35.0 microg x ml(-1). The developed methods were successfully applied for the assay of pharmaceutical dosage form. The statistics of the analytical data is also presented. The results obtained by first derivative spectrophotometry were compared with HPLC and no significant difference was found.     

Rapid and simple methods for quantitative analysis of some antidepressant in pharmaceutical formulations by using first derivative spectrophotometry and HPLC

Two rapid, simple and accurate first derivative spectrophotometry and HPLC method for the determination of nefazodone hydrochloride and sertraline hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations are discussed. The first one is a derivative spectrophotometric procedure and the second one is based on a HPLC method with a UV detector. In the first method, first derivative spectrophotometry, nefazodone hydrochloride or sertraline hydrochloride by measurement of their first derivative signals at 241.8-256.7 nm (peak-to-peak amplitude), or 271.6-275.5 nm (peak-to-peak amplitude), respectively. Calibration graphs were established for 10.0-42.0 microg ml(-1) nefazodone hydrochloride, or 8.0-46.0 microg ml(-1) sertraline hydrochloride. In the other method, HPLC, the UV detection was carried out at 265.0 nm (nefazodone hydrochloride) and 270.0 nm (sertraline hydrochloride). The samples were chromatographed on a Supercosil RP-18 column. The mobile phases were methanol:acetonitrile:phosphate buffer at pH 5.5 (10:50:40 v/v/v) (nefazodone hydrochloride) and methanol:phosphate buffer at pH 4.5 (20:80 v/v) (sertraline hydrochloride). The results obtained from first derivative spectrophotometric method were comparable with those obtained by using HPLC. It was concluded that both the developed methods are equally accurate, sensitive, and precision could be applied directly and easily to the pharmaceutical formulations of nefazodone hydrochloride and sertraline hydrochloride, respectively.