Photostability evaluation of nicardipine · HCl solutions

A stability high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is proposed as suitable to assess the photodegradation of nicardipine · HCl solutions. The method was validated with particular regard to selectivity. The application of such a procedure to the study of the degradation rate of nicardipine · HCl under both UV and daylight conditions is illustrated. Further structural studies were performed, by means of mass spectrometry, on the main degradation product collected from HPLC: this allowed its identification as the pyridine analogue of nicardipine. © 1992.