PHOTOSTABILITY TESTING OF FORMULATED PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS : A REVIEW

Photostability studies must be carried out to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of a pharmaceutical product. These studies should be conducted according to the ICH guidelines. There are a number of drugs which degraded on exposure to light. Several functional groups are found to be responsible for photodegradation and undergo certain specific reactions. The photosensitive drugs are classified as drug I-IV on the basis of the severity to which they respond to light. Moisture, oxygen and pH are among the many factors found to be responsible for enhancing the photodegradation.