[e-drug] Differences in shelf lives of same medicine

e-drug
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E-DRUG: Differences in shelf lives of same medicine
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Dear All,

I wish to draw your attention to an observation I made while crosschecking the stock of pharmaceuticals on shelf in one of our hospitals.

Product X came from two different companies. The companies did not supply different Isomers. Both supplied same product. For example both supplied Quinine Sulphate 200mg. However, while the shelf from one company was 5 years, the shelf from another company was 3 years.

I raised this issue in one International Pharmaceutical Forum in Douala Cameroon and a local manufacturer said from pharmacopoeial standards it is 5 yrs.

Another issue I noticed was that of Amoxycillin tablets from a well known giant generic company. The amoxycillin had a shelf life of two years only.

I have great fear at these problems.

Is it that one company uses raw materials that are about to expire or the quality of the active ingredient was doubtful

I would like to read your comments and suggestions.

Regards

Robert Chana
chana_robert@yahoo.co.uk
[please provide affiliation/country next time!]

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E-DRUG: Differences in shelf lives of same medicine (3)
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dear Robert Chana and E-druggers,

In most cases, a shelf life of two years is only supported by accelerated
stability data, whereas anything above two years would be real time
stability data. This means that the manufacturer will state a shelf-life for
a period where the stability of the product has been tested with real time
data. Maybe the manufacturer for the product in question still has real time
stability data for three years while the other has done it for 5 years.

Even though the molecule maybe the same, the formulation may not be the
same, hence the stability of the finished product will not necessarily be
the same.

best regards

Ruth Chapereka (Mrs)
Patsol Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd
Shop No. 3 Parkade Building
Corner J.Nyerere Way & N. Mandela Ave
P O Box 2746
Harare
Zimbabwe
Phone: 263 4 781841/2; 753479
Mobile: 263 11 600921
Fax: 263 4 756927
Email: patsol@mweb.co.zw