Semiautomated analyses of some ergot alkaloid formulations.

The following pharmaceutical preparations were assayed using a modification of a semi-automated procedure for methylergonovine and ergonovine maleate: ergotamine tartrate tablets and injections, ergotamine tartrate tablets and suppositories with caffeine, methysergide maleate tablets, and dihydroergocornine-dihydroergocristine - dihydroergokryptine mesylate sublingual tablets. These formulations could be assayed by either the fluorometric or by the colorimetric procedure. Good results were obtained using the fluorometric and colorimetric methods for these compounds. The standard deviation for an ergotamine tartrate injection solution was 1.76, using the colorimetric system, with a mean of 98.7% of declared potency. The method compares favorably with the NF XIV procedure for ergotamine tartrate and caffeine tablets. In addition, low level dissolution rates can easily be determined on ergotamine tartrate and caffeine tablets using the fluorometric system.