STABILITY OF DOXORUBICIN, DAUNORUBICIN and EPIRUBICIN IN PLASTIC SYRINGES and MINIBAGS

The shelf lives of doxorubicin, daunorubicin and epirubicin in infusion fluids were studied using high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. Doxorubicin and epirubicin were stable (loss in potency of less than 10%) for 24 and 20 days respectively, when dissolved in sodium chloride solution (0–9%; pH, 6–47) at 25^oC and stored in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) minibags, while daunorubicin was stable for at least 43 days. All three drugs were stable for at least 43 days in sodium chloride (0–9%; pH 6–47 and 5–20) and dextrose (5%; pH 4–36) at 4 and ‐20°C. Repeated thawing and re‐freezing of these solutions at ambient temperature did not cause degradation. All three drugs were stable for at least 43 days when reconstituted with Water‐for‐Injections BP and stored in polypropylene syringes at4°C.