Stability of sotalol in two liquid formulations at two temperatures

BACKGROUND: Sotalol is used in certain pediatric patients to treat, suppress, or prevent the recurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. However, it is commercially unavailable in a liquid dosage form. The use of an extemporaneously prepared liquid dosage form must be supported by the documentation of the chemical and physical stability of sotalol. OBJECTIVE: To determine the stability of sotalol hydrochloride extemporaneously prepared from tablets in 2 oral suspensions stored at 2 temperatures. METHODS: Five bottles contained Ora Plus:Ora Sweet (1:1) and the other 5 bottles had 1% methylcellulose:simple syrup NF (1:9), with a sotalol concentration of 5 mg/mL. Three samples were collected from each bottle at 0, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 91 days and analyzed by a stability-indicating HPLC analytical method (n = 15). RESULTS: At 4 degrees C, the mean concentration of sotalol was at least 98.9% of the original concentration in Ora Plus:Ora Sweet suspension and 95.5% of the initial concentration in 1% methylcellulose:simple syrup during storage for 3 months. At 25 degrees C, the mean concentration of sotalol was >/=95.5% of the original concentration in Ora Plus:Ora Sweet suspension and 94.4% of the initial concentration in 1% methylcellulose:simple syrup during storage for 3 months. The pH did not change substantially during the study period. Further, no changes in physical appearance were seen during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Sotalol hydrochloride can be prepared in either of 2 liquid dosage forms and stored in plastic bottles for 13 weeks at 4 or 25 degrees C without substantial loss of potency.