Abstract

Progesterone is a naturally occurring female sex hormone, which plays an important role in the female reproductive cycle. Progesterone supplementation is used to treat a variety of conditions. When commercial dosage strengths are unavailable, rapid-dissolving tablets may be compounded. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical stability of progesterone when compounded in a rapid-dissolving tablet formulation and to establish an evidence-based beyond-use date. Triplicate test samples were prepared by diluting the pulverized progesterone rapid-dissolving tablets with a portion of methanol to a final concentration of 100 µg/mL. Samples were stored in a stability chamber under accelerated conditions at 60°C and 75% relative humidity and were evaluated at appropriate intervals (0, 6 months, and 12 months). Chemical stability was assessed initially and at appropriate intervals during the study periods with stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography analytical techniques based on the determination of drug concentrations. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that the samples remained stable for 6 months at 60°C and 75% relative humidity. The remaining concentration of progesterone rapid-dissolving tablets at 6 months fell within the United States Pharmacopeia accepted limits (±10% of the initial concentration), which was consistent with the recommended beyond-use dating of 6 months for a non-aqueous formulation per United States Pharmacopeia guidelines.

Related Keywords

• chemical stability
• progesterone
• female sex hormone
• rapid-dissolving tablets
• endometrial hyperplasia
• female infertility
• assisted reproductive technology
• secondary amenorrhea
• abnormal uterine bleeding
• prevention of miscarriage and preterm delivery
• corpus luteum insufficiency
• menopause

Related Categories

• HRT
• PEER-REVIEWED
• STABILITIES, COMPATIBILITIES
• ENDOCRINOLOGY/HORMONES/ MENOPAUSE/ANDROPAUSE