Comparative dissolution studies of rectal formulations using the Basket, the Paddle and the Flow-Through methods. I. Paracetamol in suppositories and soft gelatin capsules of both hydrophilic and lipophilic types.

The applicabilities of the Paddle, the Basket and the Flow-Through methods have been investigated for seven different rectal compositions of hydrophilic and lipophilic type. The formulations were studied with respect to in vitro dissolution rate and behaviour in the different techniques. It was found that the composition has a considerable influence on the behaviour of the dosage form and this must be taken into account when judging the applicabilities of the three dissolution tests. The Paddle, the Basket and the Flow-Through methods are considered to be equivalent methods for the dissolving suppositories tested. The Flow-Through method is applicable for all the seven compositions tested; however, a low flow rate (8 ml/min) is necessary to use for soft gelatin capsules when both the coefficient of variation and the behaviour of the dosages within the techniques is taken into consideration.