Compounded omeprazole suspension - stable or not?
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor commonly used in pediatric patients (Wensel, 2009). Pediatric patients are usually unable to swallow solid dosage forms and they need dose adjustment. Therefore, the dosage form of choice for this population is compounded liquid preparation. Since pharmacies don't usually dispose of pure active substances, compounded liquid preparations are most commonly prepared from commercially available solid dosage forms, in a way that tablets are simply pulverized or capsule contents emptied, adding water or one of the commercially available vehicles (Haywood and Glass, 2013). Considering the risks associated with the preparation and use of compounded preparations, the Chapter <795> of the US Pharmacopoeia states that the beyond-use date is 14 days for non-preserved aqueous oral formulations, if stored in the refrigerator. Preserved aqueous preparations can be stored for 35 days at controlled room temperature or in the refrigerator (USP, 2015).