DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF CARBAMAZEPINE LOZENGES

Onyeka Ifeanyi Peter; Ukwe Chioma Ifeoma

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v2i5.R1

Onyeka Ifeanyi Peter Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria
Ukwe Chioma Ifeoma Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria

10.22270/ujpr.v2i5.R1

Keywords:

Lozenges, HPMC K4M, Carbamazepine (CBZ), swallowing, in vitro dissolution, stability studies

Abstract

Objectives: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an anticonvulsant drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. The aim of present study was to develop and evaluate lozenges of Carbamazepine for improvement of bioavailability and patient compliance especially for those patients who have difficulty in swallowing

Methods: The lozenges were prepared using sucrose as base; HPMC K4M, methyl cellulose were used as polymers by heating and congealing method on laboratory scale. All the formulations prepared were subjected to various physicochemical parameters like hardness, friability, weight variation, drug content and in vitro dissolution studies. Stability studies of selected formulations of batch CL4 were also carried out at 40/75% relative humidity for 6 months.

Results: All the formulations showed good physical appearance. The Thickness of the formulations was in the range of 14.23±0.12 to 14.50±0.06cm, weight variation was found to be in the range of 2.34± 0.12 to 4.51± 0.08%. The percent drug release was found in the range of 55.49 to 93.27%. Selective formulation was found to be stable at different temperature conditions.

Conclusion: Study concludes that incorporating polymers like HPMC K4M and methylcellulose can be used to formulate effective medicated Carbamazepine lozenges especially for patients who cannot swallow solid oral dosage forms.