International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2026

A Validated Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Milnacipran Hydrochloride, Identification and Characterization of Forced Degradation Products Using LC-MS/MS

V.U. Barge1*, A.N. Phuge2

1* Research Guide, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, PDEA's, Shankarrao Ursal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research Center, affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Kharadi, Pune - 411014 (Corresponding Author)

2 Research Scholar, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, PDEA's, Shankarrao Ursal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research Center, affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Kharadi, Pune - 411014


Received: 15th Feb, 2026; Revised: 27th Feb, 2026; Accepted: 20th Mar, 2026; Available Online: 5th Apr, 2026

ABSTRACT

A stability-indicating reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for milnacipran hydrochloride. The drug was subjected to forced degradation studies under hydrolytic, oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions according to International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. A single major degradation product (DP-1) was detected under oxidative stress conditions with 30% hydrogen peroxide at room temperature, showing 32% degradation after 4 days. The drug remained stable under acidic, basic, neutral hydrolytic, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Hypersil Gold C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using gradient elution with 10 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) and acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with detection at 220 nm. The degradation product was characterized by LC-MS/MS and identified as milnacipran N-oxide. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness and system suitability parameters. The validated method was successfully applied to commercial tablet formulations for stability studies.

Keywords: Not available.

How to cite this article: Barge VU, Phuge AN. A Validated Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Milnacipran Hydrochloride, Identification and Characterization of Forced Degradation Products Using LC-MS/MS. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4): 200-214. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4.23

Source of support: Nil.

Conflict of interest: None