Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUTATION OF DUAL RELEASE MULTIPLE UNIT TABLET FORMULATION

*Dr. D.K Sanghi, Dr. S.B. Joshi, Dr. S.B. Jaiswal And Rakesh Tiwle

ABSTRACT

Formulations studies were conducted to ascertain the feasibility of designing a multiple-unit tablet formulation containing two drugs with different release characteristic. The objective of the study was to employ hydrophilic gums that swell rapidly in the design of controlledrelease drug pellets. Controlled-release pellets of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride were prepared by powder layering blend of drug with hydrophilic gums-guar and xanthan gum mixture in ratio 8:2, on to nonpareil seeds. The pellets were subsequently film-coated with HPMC to facilitate their free dispersion after disintegration of multiple-unit tablets in aqueous media. Controlled-release film coatedpseudoephedrine pellets were then compressed along with directly compressible cushioning excipients-microcrystalline cellulose and lactose and the other drug loratidine in to multiple-unit tablets, which were subsequently film-coated with. Evaluation of the compressed multiple- unit tablet formulation revealed that the tablets had a good mechanical strength and show rapid disintegration. In vitro disolutation studies on controlled-release pseudoephedrine pallets and multiple unit tablets demonstrated that the release of pseudoephedrine from multiple unit tablet formulation was retarded as compared to release from intact pellets. The immediate release characteristic of loratidine remained unaltered.

Keywords: Multiple-unit; Pellets, Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and loratidine, Hydrophilic gum, controlled release.