Erythromycin-Direct Compression Excipients: Preformulation Stability Screening Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry was used as a screening technique for assessing the compatibility of erythromycin with some of the direct compression excipients. Erythromycin was found to be compatible with Avicel PH 101, Avicel PH 105, Elcema F 150, Elcema G 250, Solka-floc BW 100, Sta-Rx 1500, Cab-0-Sil, Brownex sugar, Di-Pac, sorbitol, mannitol and granular mannitol, while incompatible with Emdex, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, Di-Tab and Emcompress. It appears that L-(-)-leucine can be used as lubricant in formulations containing erythromycin while stearic acid and magnesium stearate cannot.