FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FAST DISSOLVING TABLET OF LEVOCETIRIZINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE AND MONTELUKAST SODIUM

Introduction: Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) have received ever-increasing demand during the last decade, and the field has become a rapidly growing area in the pharmaceutical industry. Objective: The aim of the present study was to formulate fast-dissolving tablets of Levocetirizine dihydrochloride (LEV) and Montelukastsodium (MON) by direct compression method. Material And Methods: An attempt was made to mask the bitter taste of Levocetirizine by preparing an ion exchange resin complex by a batch method using Kyron T-104. The tablets were prepared using mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose as diluents, and croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone as super disintegrants. Parameters like a drug: resin ratio, pH & swelling time were successfully optimized to prepare the drug resin complex. The fast-dissolving tablets were characterized for various pre and post-compression parameters along with disintegration time, content uniformity, wetting time, in-vitro drug release, in vivo taste evaluation, and compatibility studies. Result and Discussion: The tablets prepared by direct compression method possess a hardness of 3.4 to 3.6 Kg/cm², percentage friability of 0.65 to 0.80, in vitro disintegration time of 29.82 to 51.7 seconds, and wetting time of 20.4 to 46.8 seconds. The formulation (F4)containing crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium in 2:4 ratios showed better disintegration time and more than 99% drug release within 6 minutes. Comparative taste evaluation proves the palatability of formulated tablets. Results of stability studies were also found in acceptable limits. Conclusion: The prepared orodispersible tablets disintegrate within seconds without the need for water and enhance absorption; thismay lead to increased bioavailability of LEV as well as MON.