Comparison of Dissolution Profiles of Tablets and Capsules from the USP, Levy, and Magnetic Basket Methods

Single-batch lots of pentobarbituric acid tablets and sodium butabarbital capsules were dissolved in the USP, Levy beaker, and three different size magnetic basket dissolution apparatuses. Each method was compared using an analysis of variance and other statistical tests to ascertain if significantly different dissolution profiles were produced. Variation in terms of standard deviation of drug released by the different methods was also compared. The five different dissolution methods produced significantly different dissolution profiles at various selected times for both the tablets and capsules studied. However, differences in variations produced by the different dissolution methods upon repeated dissolution of either tablets or capsules seemed to be of the same order.