The work aims to summarize the detection and analysis methods for the extractables, including volatile, semi-volatile, non-volatile substances and metal elements form plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials to provide reference for panoramic analysis and safety evaluation of the extractables of plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials. By searching the relevant publications at home and abroad, the analysis methods of different extractables in plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials were summarized. At present, plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials in our country are updated day by day, but the analysis method is fairly single to comprehensively analysis the extractables of plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials. Especially, the database about the extractables has not been established. The research on compatibility of pharmaceutical packaging materials has just started. In allusion to the aforementioned problems, it is urgent to build a method with high resolution, sensitivity, specificity and wide range of screening to have an overall analysis on the extractables of plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials and reduce medical safety issues caused by the plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials.