Vol. 3, Issue 2, Part E (2017)

Abstract
Desloratadine is a potent, rapidly effective, long-acting, non-sedative antihistamine with selective H1 receptor histamine antagonist activity. The purpose of this research work was to evaluate the pharmaceutical equivalent of six different brands of desloratadine 5 mg tablets using in vitro dissolution study and with different price ranges purchased from retail pharmacies of Bangladesh. Some other evaluations of desloratadine tablets were done using various pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopoeial tests with an aim to assess whether these selected brands are pharmaceutically equivalent or not. The tested brand products had a satisfactory hardness except brand (D1, D5 and D6), average weight except brand D4, friability, disintegration and potency except brand D6 results. Drug release was satisfactory for all brands, since more than 75% of the desloratadine was dissolved in the medium within 40 min of the test. The dissolution profiles were compared with the use of model independent approaches of difference factor and similarity factor, showing that brand D4 is similar with brand D1 and can be used interchangeably.