International journal of pharmaceutical compounding
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of morphine sulfate 5 mg/mL with clonidine hydrochloride 0.25 mg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride injection and morphine sulfate 50 mg/mL with clonidine hydrochloride 4 mg/mL in sterile water for injection when packaged in plastic syringes. Test samples of morphine sulfate 5-mg/mL with clonidine hydrochloride 0.25-mg/mL and morphine sulfate 50-mg/mL with clonidine hydrochloride 4-mg/mL solutions were packaged as 20 mL of drug solution in 30-mL plastic syringes, sealed with plastic tip caps, and stored at 4 deg C and 23 deg C for 60 days. Test samples were also stored at -20 deg C and 37 deg C (temperature extremes that might be encountered during shiping) for 2 days. ⋯ Morphine concentrations were found to be about 98% or greater, and clonidine hydrochloride concentrations were about 97% or greater throughout the study period under each storage condition. Morphine sulfate solutions at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 mg/mL combined with clonidine hydrochloride ranging from 0.25 to 4 mg/mL can be packaged in plastic syringes, stored and shipped with little or no loss of drug. However, freezing should be avoided.