EFFECT OF POLYMERS AND GAS FORMING AGENTS ON GASTRO RETENTIVE FLOATING TABLETS OF ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM
*Manivannan R, Krishnarajan D, Asirdhayan J, Gowthaman R and Senthilkumar N
Department of Pharmaceutics, Annai JKK Sampoorani ammal College of Pharmacy, Komrapalayam, Namakkal (DT), Tamilnadu, India. Pin: 638183.
Abstract
Atorvastatin Calcium is a lipid lowering drug. It is a HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitor used in the treatment of hyper lipidaemia. It has a oral
bioavailability of less than 12% Floating matrix tablets are designed to
prolong the gastric residence time after oral administration, at a particular
site and controlling the release of drug, especially useful for achieving
controlled plasma level as well as improving bioavailability. With this
objective, floating dosage form containing Atorvastatin Calcium as drug was
designed. Tablets containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), drug
and different additives were compressed using wet granulation. The study
shows that tablet composition has great influence on the floating properties
and drug release. Incorporation of gas-generating agent together with
polymer improved drug release, besides optimal floating (floating lag time
~30 s; total floating time >12 h). The drug release was sufficiently sustained
(more than 11h) and non-Fickian as well as zero-order was confirmed.