Formulation Development and Evaluation of Floating Tablets of Zolmitriptan

Abstract

Zolmitriptan is the antimigraine agent widely used for the treatment of the migraine. It shows the half-life of 2.5 – 3 h which indicate the frequent dosing to achieve proper pharmacological action of the drug. Gastro Retentive Drug Delivery System (GRDDS) is a common approach to decrease the dosing frequency and increase patient compliance, and delivery of drug through such an approach of floating tablet formulation will meet the requirement. This system showed substantial effect on the drug release through floating and swelling properties. The tablets were formulated by using direct compression technique along with hydrophilic polymers and gas generating system. In the preliminary trials, we observed that the tablets were within pharmacopeial limit. % Drug release of the formulations (F1 – F9) was studied up to 6 h and it was found from 52 to 91 %. The cumulative percentage drug release was inversely proportional to polymer concentrations of HPMC K100 M and PVP K 30. The batches follow Higuchi model of drug release which involves the diffusion mechanism. In-vitro dissolution studies showed good percent drug release, which is in accordance with robinson-errikson equation. Good buoyancy for additional 6 h, trailed by the diffusion.