Liquid Chromatographic Analysis and Degradation Kinetics of Famotidine

A reverse phase HPLC method for the determination of famotidine in tablets has been developed. The method is stability indicative as exhibited by its ability to separate drug from its degradation products. Chromatography was performed with an octadecyl silane bonded silica column at ambient temperature using UV detection at 254 nm. The mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.02 M sodium acetate (pH adjusted to 4.5) in the ratio of 1:4 was pumped at 1.0 ml per minute. A percent RSD of < 0.86% and correlation coefficient of 0.9993 were achieved over the concentration range studied (2-100 4mUg.ml −1 ). This drug exhibits instability both in acidic and alkaline media. Kinetic study showed that degradation in acidic media follows an apparent first order process.