Qualitative Evaluation of Some Brands of Paracetamol Suspensions Available in Retail Pharmacies in Surulere, Lagos

Abstract

The widespread use of paracetamol suspensions for pediatric fever and pain management in Nigeria raises critical concerns regarding the consistency and quality of different marketed brands. With a proliferation of locally manufactured and imported products, and amid persistent regulatory challenges, the potential for substandard formulations poses a significant public health risk, especially for children who are more vulnerable to therapeutic failure or toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the quality of selected brands of paracetamol suspensions available in retail pharmacies in Surulere, Lagos State, using standard methods such as assessing the organoleptic properties, pH, sedimentation rate, viscosity, drug content, microbial quality, and comparing findings with pharmacopeial specifications. Eight paracetamol suspension brands were randomly obtained from registered retail pharmacies in Surulere. Findings revealed significant brand-to-brand variation. While most brands exhibited acceptable organoleptic properties, only five out of eight met the required drug content range (90–110% of label claim). Differences in viscosity impacted redispersibility and flow characteristics, with PCM 6 exhibiting poor pourability due to excessive thickness. Microbial load for all samples was found to be within acceptable pharmacopeial limits, with no brand showing early signs of contamination after a 7-day shelf-life simulation. These results highlight quality consistencies in paracetamol suspensions marketed for pediatric use.