Tizanidine hydrochloride is an orally administered prokinetic agent that facilitates or restores motility through-out the length of the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of the present investigation was to develop effervescent floating matrix tablets of tizanidine hydrochloride for prolongation of gastric residence time in order to overcome its low bioavailability (34-40 %) and short biological half life (4.2 h). Tablets were prepared by the direct compression method, using different viscosity grades of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M, K15M and K100M). Tablets were evaluated for various physical parameters and floating properties. Further, tablets were studied for in vitro drug release characteristics in 12 hours. Drug release from effervescent floating matrix tablets was sustained over 12 h with buoyant properties. DSC study revealed that there is no drug excipient interaction. Based on the release kinetics, all formulations best fitted the Higuchi, first-order model and non-Fickian as the mechanism of drug release. Optimized formulation (F9) was selected based on the similarity factor (f2) (74.2), dissolution efficiency at 2, 6 and 8 h, and t50 (5.4 h) and was used in radiographic studies by incorporating BaSO4. In vivo X-ray studies in human volunteers showed that the mean gastric residence time was 6.2 ± 0.2 h.

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T he objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate a press coated pulsatile drug delivery system of salbutamol sulphate in order to attain a time controlled release for treatment of nocturnal asthma. The core was prepared by direct compression, while press coating technique was used in coating the outer layer there by preparing a press coated tablet. The immediate release core formulations comprised of salbutamol sulphate and disintegrants like crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium and sodium starch glycolate in different ratios with the drug. The outer coat formulations were prepared using a hydrophilic (HPMC) and hydrophobic (EC) polymer of similar viscosity. The polymers were reviewed individually for their influence on lag time further obtaining the lag time using polymer combinations were assessed by employing central composite design. All the preliminary trials were evaluated for various post compression parameters along with the dissolution study that was performed using USP paddle method at 50 rpm in 0.1 N HCl and phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The formulation containing 300 mg of EC N50 and 75-100 mg of HPMC E50 may be regarded as the minimum quantity required in outer press coat so as to attain a predetermined lag time of 6 h.