Mephobarbital tablets

In certain specific cases either the pure pharmaceutical substance or dosage forms are quantitatively converted to free compound. This conversion to free compound is quantitative and hence forms the basis of gravimetric analysis. A few typical examples belonging to this category are, namely progesterone suspension sterile, progesterone tablets, sodium lauryl sulphate, mephobarbital tablets and sorbitan monooleate. 

Procedure Weigh and finely powder not less than 20 mephobarbital tablets. Transfer an accurately weighed portion of the powder equivalent to about 300 mg of mephobarbital to an extraction thimble. Extract with 15 ml of solvent hexane, allow the thimble to drain, transfer to a continuous extraction apparatus provided with a tared flask, and extract the mephobarbital with chloroform for 2 hours. Evaporate the chloroform on a steam bath with the aid of a current of air, cool, dissolve the residue in about 10 ml of alcohol, evaporate, dry the residue at 105°C for 1 hour, cool and weigh. 

Aprobarbital is an elixir, mephobarbital is a tablet, and the drug containing secobarbital and amobarbital is a capsule. Legally prescribed barbiturates and those used in medical procedures are used in the form that the drug is produced. Some drug abusers will inject powder from capsules or ground-up tablets. 

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