This study describes the investigation of degradation products of donepezil
(DP) using stability indicating RP-HPLC method for determination of
donepezil, which is a centrally acting reversible acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor. In order to investigate the stability of drug and formed
degradation products, a forced degradation study of drug sample and finished
product under different forced degradation conditions has been conducted.
Donepezil hydrochloride and donepezil tablets were subjected to stress
degradation conditions recommended by International Conference on
Harmonization (ICH). Donepezil hydrochloride solutions were subjected to acid
and alkali hydrolysis, chemical oxidation and thermal degradation.
Significant degradation was observed under alkali hydrolysis and oxidative
degradation conditions. Additional degradation products were observed under
the conditions of oxidative degradation. The degradation products observed
during forced degradation studies were monitored using the high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) method developed. The parent method was modified
in order to obtain LC-MS compatible method which was used to identify the
degradation products from forced degradation samples using high resolution
mass spectrometry. The mass spectrum provided the precise mass from which
derived molecular formula of drug substance and degradation products formed
and proved the specificity of the method unambiguously. [Projekat
Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172013]