Development of Fast Dissolving Carbamazepine Tablets: Effect of Functionality of Superdisintegrants

Abstract

Carbamazepine, a dibenzapine derivative with structure resembling that of tricyclic antidepressants, is used in the treatment of epilepsy. The major problem of this drug is very low solubility in biological fluids and poor bioavailability after oral administration. Carbamazepine fast dissolving tablets (FDT) have been prepared by direct compression method. Effects of superdisintegrants (such as croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate) on wetting time, disintegrating time, drug content, in vitro release, and stability parameters have been studied. The prepared tablets were characterized by DSC and FTIR Studies. No chemical interaction between drug and excipients was confirmed by DSC and FTIR studies. Disintegration time and dissolution parameters (t50% and t90%) decreased with increase in the level of croscarmellose sodium and crosspovidone, whereas disintegration time and dissolution parameters increased with increase in the level of the sodium starch glycolate in tablets. Among all formulations f8 was considered best. The results concluded that fast dissolving tablets of poorly soluble drug carbamazepine, showing enhanced dissolution, will lead to improved bioavailability, improved effectiveness and hence better patient compliance.