Pharmaceutical evaluation of mefenamic acid tables available in local market of Rawalpindi Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Mefenamic acid is a commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in mild to moderate pains. Different multinational and national brands of mefenamic acid are available and are being frequently prescribed in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Pharmacies and dispensaries associated with clinics usually dispense local brands which are cost effective as compared to multinational brands. Present study was conducted to assess pharmaceutical equivalence of one multinational [XI] and four national brands namely, X2, X3, X4 and X5, so as to prove their use as an alternative to one another. All the brands were evaluated for their quality control parameters of hardness, friability, weight variation, disintegration, dissolution and assay of active ingredient. All the brands fulfilled quality control criteria's of USP while 2 of the national brands did not meet B.P standards of assay of active ingredients by brands XI, X4 and X5 were pharmaceutical equivalents and can be substituted one another. Results of the study reveal that good manufacturing practice guidelines are dominantly being followed in multinational as well as national pharmaceutical companies?