Chemical stability of hydrocortisone in humco simple syrup and ora-sweet vehicles.

The chemical stability of hydrocortisone in two different commercially available vehicles for compounding oral liquid dosage forms has been studies using a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic assay method that was developed in our laboratory. Hydrocortisone was more stable in Ora-Sweet vehicle than in Humco simple syrup. After 71 days of storage at 60 degrees Celsius, the percent of hydrocortisone retained in Humco simple syrup was 62.8 ( initial pH value of the dosage form was 5.2) versus 67.7 in Ora-Sweet vehicle (initial pH value of the dosage form was 4.3). Due to the hydrolysis of sugar, the physical appearances of both the dosage forms gradually changed from almost colorless to yellow. Citric acid, which was present only in the Ora-Sweet vehicle, did not adversely affect the stability of hydrocortisone.