Formulation in Pharmacy Practice 

  2nd Edition

ATENOLOL
 

The solubility of atenolol in water is 26.7mg per mL and it is also soluble in dehydrated
alcohol.  It is poorly soluble in alkaline solutions and shows maximum stability at pH 4.1

Formula A2

Atenolol Oral Liquid 2mg per mL

 
®
Atenolol tablets (Tenormin ) 100mg 5  
*Roxane® Diluent to   250 mL
 
Crush the atenolol tablets to a powder using a mortar and pestle then
slowly add 50mL Roxane® Diluent and triturate to a fine paste.
Add 200mL Roxane®  Diluent to the mortar in three equal portions,
thoroughly mixing after each dilution.
 
Expiry:  30 days
 
Stability:   40 days
 
Storage:  Stable at 5 - 25°C.  Refrigeration recommended.
 
*Roxane diluent contains; ethanol 1%, saccharin 0.05% in a cherry
flavoured 33% polyethylene glycol 8000 base.
 

Formula B3

Atenolol Oral Liquid 2mg per mL

 
Atenolol tablets 50mg 2  
Glycerol 2 mL
Methylcellulose 1% to   50 mL
 
Crush the tablets and make a paste with the glycerol before adding the
vehicle.
 
Expiry/Stability:  30 days
  
Storage:  Stable at 25°C but refrigeration recommended to retard
microbial growth.  A preservative such as parabens could be added.
 

 
NOTES
1. Syrup and commercially available bases Ora Sweet, Ora Sweet SF and Ora Plus can also
be used.3
2. Atenolol Injection could be administered orally if small doses are required.
3. As atenolol is soluble in water, a simple aqueous dispersion could be prepared in which
the drug is in solution and tablet excipients are in suspension.  For example Formula B
could be prepared without the suspending base.  Addition of citric acid to pH 4 - 5 will
increase stability but a maximum expiry of 7 days is suggested, as this formulation has
not been formally tested.

REFERENCES
1. Hatem A, Marton S, Csoka G, Razc I.  Preformulation studies of atenolol in oral liquid dosage form
I.  Effect of pH and temperature.  Acta Pharmaceutica Hungarica 1996; 66: 177-80
2. Garner SS, Weist DB, Reynolds ER.  Stability of atenolol in an extemporaneously compounded oral
liquid. Am J Hosp Pharm 1994; 51: 509-11 [PubMed Link]
3. Patel D, Doshi DH, Desai A.  Short-term stability of atenolol in oral liquid formulations.  Int J Pharm
Comp 1997; 1 (6): 437-439,442.