Optimization, Formulation and In-Vitro Evaluation of Mouth Dissolving Tablets of Levocetrizine Hydrochloride for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

New era is an era of novel drug delivery systems. Pediatric, Geriatric and bed ridden patients have difficulties in swallowing tablets. The purpose of the present study was to develop and characterize mouth dissolving tablets of Levocetrizine Hydrochloride by using direct compression technique. Formulations were designed by factorial design technique. Sodium starch glycolate, Crospovidone and Croscarmellose sodium were used as a superdisintegrants while microcrystalline cellulose was used as diluents. The powder blends were prepared and evaluated for the properties such as angle of repose, loose bulk density, tapped bulk density, carr’s compressibility index and hausner’s ratio. Tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, drug content, disintegration time, water absorption ratio, in vitro drug release in 0.1N HCl. Formulation containing Crospovidone and Croscarmellose sodium in higher concentration showed a rapid disintegration, wetting and in vitro drug release as compared to other formulations. Differential scanning calorimetric studies indicated no possibility of interaction between Levocetrizine Hydrochloride and superdisintegrants used in formulation. The optimized formulation showed no change in physical appearance, drug content, disintegration time and dissolution pattern after storage at 40C/75% RH for three months.