Abstract
We investigated the loss of nicardipine hydrochloride from solutions to the intravenous administration set. Nicardipine hydrochloride concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. It was found that the factors affecting the loss of nicardipine hydrochloride were the container materials, the pH of the intravenous solutions and the flow rate. When the injection diluted with isotonic sodium chloride solution stored in a glass or a polypropylene container no drug loss was observed, while in a polyvinyl chloride bag nicardipine hydrochloride concentration was reduced to 83.8% in 24 hr. When the nicardipine hydrochloride solution (pH 6.0) was passed through the administration set at a flow rate of 2.43 ml/min, initial concentration 32.3 μg/ml and the length of administration set 100 cm for 90 minutes, 18.1% of nicardipine hydrochloride was sorbed to the administration set.
