PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF VENLAFAXINE HCl MICROSPHERES

Venlafaxine HCl is a new generation serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug having antidepressant activitywith half-life of 4-5 hours. The aim of this study was to formulate and evaluate microspheres of a highlywater soluble drug, venlafaxine HCl by non-aqueous solvent evaporation method. Ethylcellulose(EC)(100 cps) and Eudragit RS-100 were selected as drug release retardant polymers and heavy liquidparaffin as a continuous phase. The prepared batches were evaluated for mean particle size, %encapsulation efficiency, % yield, % cumulative drug release and surface morphology. As concentrationof polymer increased, In vitro drug release was decreased but % encapsulation efficiency and meanparticle size of microspheres was increased. Microspheres prepared from EC showed higher particle size andsustained drug release as compared to microspheres prepared from Eudragit RS-100. From the release profile itwas observed that all the formulations followed Higuchi model indicated that drug release was throughdiffusion from homogenous matrix.