PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF A NEW GASTRO-RETENTIVE EXTENDED RELEASE MECLOZINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS

The conventional sustained release formulations are not suitable for drugs exhibiting a narrow window of absorption. For example, Meclozine, is highly soluble in only the gastric fluid and usually prescribed for patients who are experiencing nausea and vomiting and thus the risk of loosing the administered dose is always present. For this reason, any drug delivery system that is capable of keeping the drug in the stomach for a longer time will be advantageous. One approach to achieve this is the gastroretentive delivery systems. In this study, twelve formulae of Meclozine HCl tablets were prepared and evaluated for the uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, water uptake, and the percentage of increase in tablet weight. The in-vitro bioadhesion of the prepared formulae was evaluated using chicken pouches method. The in-vitro release studies of the prepared tablets were done and the percentage of drug released was calculated. Finally, the appropriate release model that describes the pattern of drug release was determined. The prepared tablets exhibited different disintegration and swelling profiles according to the type and amount of the bioadhesive polymer incorporated into the formula. All the prepared tablet formulae complied with the requirement of USP XXIV with regard to uniformity of weight and drug content. The mucoadhesive force of the investigated mucoadhesive polymers was found to be in the following order: CMC > HPMC > HPC > CP. Formulae containing HPMC and HPC showed a promising in-vitro release and adhesion results.