Physicochemical and microbiological stability of two new oral liquid formulations of clonidine hydrochloride for pediatric patients

Abstract

Pediatric patients present changing physiological features. Because of the lack of land suitable for commercial management, pediatric specialties very often need to prepare extemporaneous formulations to improve the dosage and administration of drugs for children. Oral liquid formulations are the most suitable for pediatric patients. Clonidine is widely used in the pediatric population for opioid withdrawal, hypertensive crisis, attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity syndrome, and as an analgesic in neuropathic cancer pain. The objective was to study the physicochemical and microbiological stability and determine the shelf life of an oral solution containing 20 µg/mL clonidine hydrochloride in different storage conditions (5 ± 3 °C, 25 ± 3 °C, and 40 ± 2 °C). Using raw material with excipients safe for all pediatric age groups, two oral liquid formulations of clonidine hydrochloride were designed (with and without preservatives). Solutions stored at 5 ± 3 °C (with and without preservatives) were physically and microbiologically stable for at least 90 days in closed containers and for 42 days after opening. Two oral solutions of clonidine hydrochloride 20 µg/mL were developed for pediatric use from raw materials that are readily available and easy to process, containing safe excipients that are stable over a long period of time.