Application of TA and Kinetic Study to Compatibility and Stability Problems in Some Commercial Drugs. Remarks on statistical data

A thermal analysis and kinetic study on decomposition processes of some commercial drugs have been carried out to find their thermal stability. DSC/TG curves of some commercial drugs were compared with those of their active components, the excipients, the active component/excipient and the excipient/excipient mixtures. A kinetic study was carried out using both isothermal and dynamic TG curves. Both active components and commercial drugs tested show a first order decomposition mechanism. The kinetic data showed that excipients cause a decrease of the kinetic stability of the active components. Statistical analysis allowed us to select reliable kinetic parameters related to decomposition processes. This procedure showed that the values obtained by extrapolation,outside the temperature range where the processes occurred must be used with caution. Indeed half-time and shelf-time values, commonly used at room temperature, seemed to be unrealistic. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.