Chromatographic (TLC) analysis of diltiazem in pharmaceutical form in presence of other antiarrhythmics.

Diltiazem was identified by TLC method on silica gel by ascending technique, in presence of five another antiarrhythmic drugs (disopyramide, flecainide, lidocaine, lorcainide, procainamide). Suitable conditions for separation of diltiazem were established using ethanol-benzene-dioxane-ammonia (2:20:16:3) as the mobile phase. When using acidified iodoplatinate solution or Dragendorff reagent as indicators, the amount of diltiazem as small as 100 ng can be identified. The TLC method is simple and sensitive and it was used to identify diltiazem in tablets.