Development and Evaluation of Optimized Gastroretentive Mucoadhesive Tablets of Famotidine for Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to increase the gastric residence time of Famotidine by designing and optimization of gastroretentive mucoadhesive tablet, thereby improving bioavailability of Famotidine. Famotidine conventional tablets have been reported by many Scientists to exhibit poor oral bioavailability and fluctuations in plasma drug concentration. This results, either in precipitation of side effects or reduction in drug concentration at the target site. Famotidine is a histamine H2-receptor antagonist. It is widely prescribed in active duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastro esophageal reflux disease. The effective treatment requires administration of 20 mg of Famotidine 4 times a day. A conventional dose of 20 mg can inhibit gastric acid secretion up to 6 hours but not up to 12 hours. An alternative dose of 40 mg leads to plasma fluctuations; thus a sustained release dosage form of famotidine is desirable. The short biological half-life of drug (2.5-4 hours) also favors development of a sustained release formulation. Thus objective of present study to reduce the dosing frequency by developing, optimizing and evaluating gastroretentive mucoadhesive tablet for sustain release. A 32 full factorial design is employed to study the effect of independent variables like Carbopol-940 and HPMC K100M, which significantly influence characteristics like  ex-vivo mucoadhesive strength and in-vitro drug release. Tablets were prepared by direct compression technique. No significant change was observed in physical appearance, drug content, hardness, mucoadhesive strength, in vitro dissolution pattern after the stability tasting for one month.