LACERDA, Maria Eloizia de.
Abstract:
Nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits the action of the
enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. It is part of the class of medicines most used in self-medication and
recommended in the world for treating pain and inflammation. Deviations in the quality of a
medicine can cause a lot of damage to the patient's health. Therefore, quality control is an
important process in the research and development (R&D) of medicines and must cover all
stages of production. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of nimesulide tablets from
different brands available in community pharmacies in the city of Cuité – PB, through physical-
chemical tests recommended in the Brazilian pharmacopoeia. Thirteen samples, which were
selected from screening carried out in all private pharmacies obtaining the reference medicine,
generics (n=7) and similar (n=5), were subjected to a comprehensive analysis, including visual
characterization, physical parameters ( average weight, hardness, friability and disintegration)
and dosage of the active ingredient. Visual characterization revealed that all samples had a
biconvex circular shape, varying in color and presence of identification marks. The physical
parameters demonstrated variations, however remaining within the established parameters,
while the dosage revealed that 23% (n=3) G1, S2 and S3 of the samples were outside the
specification range for the content of the active ingredient. This raises concerns about the
quality of medicines and their potential impact on pharmacotherapeutic effectiveness.
Therefore, there is a need for more rigorous supervision to guarantee the safety and
effectiveness of the medicines sold.
