Butalbital, Aspirin, and Caffeine Tablets

This article is compiled based on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) – 2025 Edition

Issued and maintained by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP)

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1 DEFINITION

Butalbital, Aspirin, and Caffeine Tablets contain NLT 90.0% and NMT 110.0% of the labeled amounts of butalbital (C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃), aspirin (C₉H₈O₄), and caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂).

2 IDENTIFICATION

A. The retention times of the butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine peaks of the Sample solution correspond to those of the butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine peaks of the Standard solution, as obtained in the Assay.

3 ASSAY

3.1 PROCEDURE

Buffer: 1.36 g/L of monobasic potassium phosphate in water

Mobile phase: Methanol and Buffer (45:55) initially adjusted with phosphoric acid to a pH of 3.9. If the retention time of the salicylic acid peak differs from that of the aspirin peak, adjust the pH of the Mobile phase with 0.2 N potassium hydroxide or 1 M phosphoric acid so that the salicylic acid peak has the same retention time as that of the aspirin peak. [Note—The retention time of the salicylic acid peak decreases about 0.3 min for each 0.1 pH increase. The retention time of the aspirin peak is essentially unaffected by such pH adjustments.]

Diluent: Methanol and Buffer (45:55) adjusted with phosphoric acid to a pH of 2.5 ± 0.05.

Salicylic acid solution: 0.1 mg/mL of salicylic acid in Diluent. Pass this solution through a suitable filter of 0.5-µm or finer pore size.

Standard stock solution: 1.6 mg/mL of USP Aspirin RS in Diluent. Sonication and shaking may be used to aid in dissolution. Use this solution within 24 h.

Standard solution: USP Reference Standards in Standard stock solution as listed below. Sonication and shaking the solution may be used to promote dissolution. Use this solution within 24 h.

Butalbital: 1.6J mg/mL of USP Butalbital RS, where J is the ratio of the labeled amount, in mg, of butalbital relative to the labeled amount of aspirin, in mg/Tablet

Caffeine: 1.6J′ mg/mL of USP Caffeine RS, where J′ is the ratio of the respective labeled amount, in mg, of caffeine relative to the labeled amount of aspirin in mg/Tablet

Sample solution: Nominally 1.6 mg/mL of aspirin from a suitable amount of powdered Tablets in solution prepared as follows. Finely powder NLT 20 Tablets, and transfer a portion of this fine powder to an appropriate volumetric flask. Dilute with Diluent to volume, and sonicate for 30 min. Pass a portion of this solution through a suitable filter of 0.5-µm or finer pore size, and use the filtrate within 24 h.

Chromatographic system

(See Chromatography 〈621〉, System Suitability.)

Mode: LC

Detectors

Butalbital: UV 210 nm

Aspirin and caffeine: UV at the wavelength of the isosbestic point of aspirin and salicylic acid at about 277 nm

Column: 3.9-mm × 30-cm; packing L1

Column temperature: 35 ± 1°

Flow rate: 1 mL/min

Injection volume: 10 µL

System suitability

Samples: Salicylic acid solution and Standard solution

[Note—The relative retention times for caffeine, aspirin, salicylic acid, and butalbital are about 0.45, 0.6, 0.6, and 1.0, respectively.]

Suitability requirements

Resolution: NLT 2.0 between caffeine and aspirin, Standard solution

Column efficiency: NLT 2000 theoretical plates from butalbital, Standard solution

Relative standard deviation: NMT 2.0% each for caffeine, aspirin, and butalbital responses, Standard solution

Analysis

Samples: Standard solution and Sample solution

Calculate the percentage of the labeled amounts of butalbital (C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃) and caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) in the portion of Tablets taken:

Result = (r_U/r_S) × (C_S/ C_U) × 100

r_U = peak response of butalbital or caffeine from the Sample solution

r_S = peak response of butalbital or caffeine from the Standard solution

C_S = concentration of USP Butalbital RS or USP Caffeine RS in the Standard solution (mg/mL)

C_U = nominal concentration of butalbital or caffeine in the Sample solution (mg/mL)

Determine the amount, in mg, of aspirin and salicylic acid in the portion of Tablets taken (W):

Result = (r_U/r_S) × C_S × V

r_U = peak response of aspirin and salicylic acid from the Sample solution

r_S = peak response of aspirin and salicylic acid from the Standard solution

C = concentration of USP Aspirin RS in the Standard solution (mg/mL)

V = volume of the Sample solution (mL)

Calculate the percentage of the labeled amount of aspirin (C₉H₈O₄) in the portion of Tablets taken:

Result = {W − [(F/100) × W]}/(C_U × V) × 100

W = amount of aspirin and salicylic acid in the portion of Tablets taken to prepare the Sample solution (mg)

F = percentage of salicylic acid obtained in the Limit of Free Salicylic Acid procedure (%)

C_U = nominal concentration of aspirin in the Sample solution (mg/mL)

V = volume of the Sample solution (mL)

Acceptance criteria: 90.0%–110.0% each of butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine

4 PERFORMANCE TESTS

4.1 DISSOLUTION (711)

Medium: Water; 900 mL

Apparatus 1: 100 rpm

Time: 60 min

Buffer, Mobile phase, Diluent, Salicylic acid solution, Standard solution, Chromatographic system, and System suitability: Proceed as directed in the Assay.

Sample solution: Use a portion of solution under test.

Analysis

Samples: Standard solution and Sample solution

Calculate the percentages of the labeled amounts of butalbital (C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃), aspirin (C₉H₈O₄), and caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) dissolved.

Tolerances: NLT 80% (Q) of the labeled amounts of butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine is dissolved.

Uniformity of Dosage Units 〈905〉: Meet the requirements

5 IMPURITIES

5.1 LIMIT OF FREE SALICYLIC ACID

Use glassware throughout this procedure. Perform this procedure on the same day the Tablets are powdered.

Diluent: Add 1 mL of phosphoric acid to each L of methanol.

Standard solution: 0.0012 mg/mL of USP Salicylic Acid RS in Diluent. Use this solution promptly.

Sample solution: Nominally 0.65 mg/mL of aspirin from a suitable amount of powdered Tablets in solution prepared as follows. Finely powder NLT 20 Tablets, and transfer a suitable portion of fine powder, equivalent to 65 mg of aspirin, to an appropriate container. Add 100.0 mL of Diluent, and shake by mechanical means for 15 min. Filter a portion of this solution, discarding the first 15 mL of the filtrate, and use the clear filtrate within 20 min after the addition of the Diluent. If the intensity of the Sample solution greatly exceeds that of the Standard solution, the solution may be suitably diluted with Diluent.

Instrumental conditions

Mode: Fluorescence

Excitation wavelength: 305 nm

Emission wavelength: 444 nm

Analysis

Samples: Standard solution and Sample solution

Allow the Samples to equilibrate for 2 min in the fluorimeter.

Calculate the percentage of salicylic acid in the portion of Tablets taken (F):

Result = (I_U/I_S) × (C_S/C_U) × 100

I_U = fluorescence intensity readings from the Sample solution

I_S = fluorescence intensity readings from the Standard solution

C_S = concentration of USP Salicylic Acid RS in the Standard solution (mg/mL)

C_U = nominal concentration of aspirin in the Sample solution (mg/mL)

Acceptance criteria: NMT 3.0% of salicylic acid

6 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

PACKAGING AND STORAGE: Preserve in tight containers.

USP REFERENCE STANDARDS (11)

USP Aspirin RS

USP Butalbital RS

USP Caffeine RS

USP Salicylic Acid RS