FORMULATION, DEVELOPMENT OF FAST DISSOLVING SUBLINGUAL WAFERS OF AN ANTIEMETIC DRUG USING FILM FORMER

The aim of the present research work is development and characterization of fast dissolving oral Wafers of Meclizine hydrochloride. Meclizine hydrochloride containing fast dissolving wafers were fabricated by the solvent casting method. Drug content was analyzed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 232 nm. The percentage drug content was between 95.65±0.23% and 99.12±0.61%, which proved uniform drug distribution within the Meclizine hydrochloride wafers.All preparations absorb moisture at a very fast rate and they disintegrate as soon as they come in contact with water. The formulated Meclizine hydrochloride wafers showed a disintegration time in the range of 6±1-15±1sec. Formulation F7 showed the least disintegration time of 6±1 sec. Formulations containing only Xanthan gum, Gelatin and Gum acacia showed highest disintegration time of 15±1sec seconds.The in vitro drug release studies were carried out on formulated Meclizine hydrochloride wafers formulation F7. The drug release data showed a drug release of 36.65%, 48.89%, 64.56%, 72.32%, 85.65% and 98.15% respectively at the 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 sec of study period. This faster release of the drug can be accounted to the optimum ratio of the wafer forming polymers used having both properties of gelation and fast melt. The drug release was found to be much faster than that of the permeation for the same formulations due to the fact that a much larger sink condition was maintained during the drug release studies which lead to a much faster release of the drug into the media.