Report: A comparative study of loratidine physiochemical properties from different brands.

Loratidine is a piperidine derivative resemble to azatadine long acting non sedating commonly used for the treatment of allergic condition like watery or itchy eyes, runny nose, chronic urticaria or throat itching. In the present study different brands of loratidine were evaluated for the weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution. Dissolution release study performed by using paddle method (USP 2) in 900 ml of 0.1N HCl at 50 rpm. The physicochemical of loratidine did not give any variation. By this study we conclude that all parameter for physicochemical properties like weight variation, hardness of tablets, friability, their disintegration time and the dissolution release study for all the brands of loratidine that are available in Karachi meet the British pharmacopoeia (BP) and United State pharmacopoeia (USP) specification for quality control analysis.Weight variation, hardness and friability value requirement was complied by all brands .Disintegration time for all brands was less than 15 minutes complying the BP/USP recommendation. All brands showed more than 80% drug release within 45 minutes. The present findings suggest that almost all the brands of loratidine meet the BP/USP specification for QC analysis.

Pharmaceutical equivalent dissertation of Metformin hydrochloride brands.

The aim of study is to establish pharmaceutical equivalence of different brands of Metformin tablets available in Karachi, Pakistan. The quality control parameters which are studied are weight variation test, hardness test, thickness, friability, disintegration and dissolution specified by BP/USP (British and United State Pharmacopoeia). Weight variation and hardness value requirement was complied by all brands. Disintegration time for all brands was within range i.e. 15 minutes and also complies with the BP/USP recommendation. All brands showed more than 90% drug release within forty five minutes. The present conclusion suggests that almost all the brands of Metformin that are available in Karachi meet the specification for quality control analysis. Assay performed by HPLC by keeping flow rate of 1.0 ml/min of the mobile phase and the quantitative evaluation at 225 nm was performed. The retention time of Metformin was found to be 2.5min. Method suitability for the quantitative determination of the drugs was proved by validation according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Associated With the Long-term Use of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate.

BACKGROUND: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) contraception is widely used all over the world; however, it may lead to a decrease in high-density lipoproteins and an increase in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides. These changes in lipid profile have a direct effect on cardiovascular disease risk. This study has been conducted to investigate the relationship between DMPA use and lipid profile, and the effect of worsening of lipid profile on fasting blood glucose. The objective of the present study is to ascertain the effects of DMPA on lipid profiles and Castelli indices, and to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease in the women using progesterone-only methods for contraception. METHODS: This was a multicenter case-control study including females of reproductive age. A total of 893 women were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria described below with the age range of 19-49 years. Among these, 477 were females who were beginning DMPA for contraception whereas 416 were the matched controls of same age and socioeconomic status. The lipid profiles, Castelli indices and fasting blood sugar were evaluated before initiation of DMPA and thereafter at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Controls were also analyzed for the same parameters in the same manner as that of treated group. The results were analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance followed by Tukey׳s post hoc test for the multiple comparisons. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences in all parameters of lipid profile, namely cholesterol (180.7 ± 38.8 versus 133.03 ± 14.8mg/dL, and P = 0.000), LDL (120.04 ± 36.2 versus 94.27 ± 19.6mg/dL, and P = 0.000), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (24.6 ± 10.0 versus 20.99 ± 8.66mg/dL, and P = 0.000), high-density lipoprotein (39.67 ± 3.6 versus 44.13 ± 4.22mg/dL, and P = 0.000), total cholesterol (713.05 ± 110.2 versus 569.19 ± 80.4mg/dL, and P = 0.000), triglycerides (126.33 ± 48.8 versus 99.03 ± 30.6mg/dL, and P = 0.000), Castelli index I (4.61 ± 1.2 versus 3.02 ± 0.31, and P = 0.000) and Castelli index II (3.08 ± 1.07 versus 2.13 ± 0.41, and P = 0.000) between treated and control groups, respectively. Serum glucose levels were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) among the cases of DMPA (84.6394 ± 7.425mg/dL) compared with that in the control (77.822 ± 7.733mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly revealed that there is an increase in all deleterious lipid parameters and a decrease in favorable lipid measures. Hence, it can be concluded that continued use of DMPA may predispose females to the risk of cardiovascular disease in the long run.

Effect of hormonal contraceptives on serum lipids: A prospective study.

To estimate the effects of using hormonal contraceptives on serum lipoprotein levels. Lipid profile was measured at baseline and afterward at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. 1391 Pakistani females taking COCs, DMPA, or non hormonal (NH) contraceptives. The results were calculated by repeated measure ANOVA subsequent to tukey's post hoc test for the multiple comparisons. Statistical examination revealed that differences in lipid profile were significant (p <0.001) among all treated group in comparison with control. DMPA also caused significant rise in Castelli index-I and Castelli index-II as compared to COCs group and control group. This study demonstrated raise in total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) as well as very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Whereas, an obvious decrease was observed in high density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the DMPA-treated group. We concluded that, this inductive study specifies atherogenic cardiovascular risk in women using DMPA on long term basis.