SummaryA stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of nalbuphine hydrochloride, methylparaben, and propylparaben in nalbuphine hydrochloride injection. Reversed-phase chromatography was carried out using a mobile phase containing 0.05 % trifluoroacetic acid, acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 280 rim. Validation data for linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity, and robustness are presented. The chromatographic system resolves nalbuphine from synthetic impurities and degradation products.bisnalbuphine. 10-Ketonalbuphine is another degradation product of nalbuphine that has been found, although at much lower levels. The potential synthetic impurities are [~-nalbuphine and c~-nor-14-hydroxydihydromorphine. Structures of nalbuphine and related compounds are shown in Figure 1. In this method, all synthetic impurities and degradation products are separated from nalbuphine.A survey of the literature revealed that there have been numerous studies concerned with the determination of nalbuphine in biological fluids. Nalhuphine has been determined in plasma using HPLC with either electrochemical detection [3][4][5][6][7] or UV detection [8,9], and in urine by gas chromatography [10][11][12]. Thin layer chromatography has been used to determine nalbuphine in equine urine [13]. However, no methods have been reported for the determination of nalbuphine in commercial preparations. This method was developed for the determination of nalbuphine and parabens in a parenteral product.