Simple HPLC method for simultaneous determination of acetaminophen, caffeine and chlorpheniramine maleate in tablet formulations

A simple, rapid and accurate, routine-HPLC method is described for simultaneous determination of acetaminophen, caffeine and chlorpheniramine maleate in a new tablet formulation. Chromatographic separation of the three pharmaceuticals was achieved on a Hypersil CN column (150 × 5.0 mm, 5 μm) using a mobile phase comprising a mixture of acetonitrile, an ion-pair solution and tetrahydrofuran (13:14:87, v/v, pH 4.5). The flow-rate was changed from 1.0 mL min^-1 (in 0 ∼ 7.5 min) to 1.8 mL min^-1 (after 3.5 min). Detection was 223 nm. Separation was complete in < 10 min. The method was validated for system suitability, linearity, accuracy, precision, limits of detection and quantitation, and robustness. Linearity, accuracy and precision were found to be acceptable over the ranges 31.6 ∼ 315.8 μg mL^-1 for acetaminophen, 9.5 ∼ 94.6 μg mL^-1 for caffeine and 1.4 ∼ 13.8 μg mL^-1 for chlorpheniramine maleate.