DEVELOPMENT AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF EFFERVESCENT FLOATING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF FAMOTIDINE

The objective of the present study was to prepare and evaluate gastroretentive floating drug delivery system containing famotidine as a model drug. Famotidine tablets were prepared by wet granulation method using two different grades of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose- HPMC K4M and HPMC K100M by effervescent technique. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) and citric acid (CA) were incorporated as gas-generating agents. Floating tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, thickness, hardness, friability, drug content, in vitro buoyancy and dissolution studies. The effect of effervescent agent on drug release profile and floating properties was also investigated. Prepared tablets exhibited controlled and prolonged drug release profiles while floating over the dissolution medium. Non–Fickian diffusion was confirmed as the drug release mechanism from these tablets, indicating that water diffusion and polymer rearrangement played an essential role in drug release. All the prepared tablets showed good in vitro buoyancy.