The comparative bioavailability and in vitro assessment of solid oral dosage forms of paracetamol

The dissolution profiles of eight lots of paracetamol tablets representing seven different tablet brands are determined in a USP rotating basket assembly and a stationary basket-rotating paddle apparatus. The in vitro data are expressed in terms of dissolution parameters and inter-tablet differences are assessed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Scheffe test. Highly significant differences are observed between a number of the tablets at the 95% confidence level. Representative tablets from the dissolution rate study and a control dose of paracetamol dissolved in water are subsequently investigated in a 4 x 4 latin square design bioavailability trial. Serum and urine samples are collected and assayed for paracetamol alone (serum) and together with its metabolites (urine) by means of high pressure liquid chromatography. The in vivo data are expressed in terms of bioavailability parameters and differences between the test doses are assessed by means of ANOVA. No significant differences are observed between the dosage forms at the 95% confidence level