In vitro Comparative Quality Evaluation of Formulated and Marketed Losartan Potassium 25 Mg Tablets

Background: The outcome of the drug therapy depends largely on the quality of the drug product. The lower quality of the drug product can be the reason for therapeutic failure. The present study was designed to evaluate the quality standard of Losartan Potassium tablet brands available in Bangladesh market to get an idea of quality standard of drug product people consuming in this country.

Materials and methods: Three brands of losartan potassium were chosen randomly. Tablets of each brand were collected from individual retail outlets to gauge the qualitative evaluation and compare them by in-vitro drug release study. They were subjected to various quality control tests to measure the hardness, thickness, weight variation, friability, disintegration time, potency, stability, and dissolution profile. All these tests were performed according to the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) specification. Researchers further formulated a batch of tablet of Losartan Potassium and compared them with the existing brands. The formulation was prepared by optimizing the existing one available in the USP. Test results of the existing brands were taken into consideration during the optimization of the formulation.

Results and discussion: Two brands passed the weight variation test, while one brand exceeded the range (±5%). The potency was determined instantly and 15 days after keeping the tablets in a stability chamber at 75% humidity and 60oC temperature. The potency of two brands degraded below the lower limit specified by the USP, while that of the remaining one was within the limits. Results of other tests were within the specified limits. Tablets prepared in the lab using an optimized formulation showed a better dissolution rate than the existing brands.

Conclusion: Some of the brands failed to meet the desired quality, so the quality control system of that companies should be upgraded and a proper monitoring system should be developed by the drug administration.