Formulation and Evaluation of Salbutamol Sulphate Taste Masked Oral Disintegrating Tablets

Salbutamol is a short acting, selective beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist used in the treatment of astama and COPD. The aim of this study is to formulate oral disintegrating tablets of salbutamol sulphate to achieve rapid dissolution, absorption and further improving the bioavailability of the drug. Oral disintegrating tablets of salbutamol sulphate were designed with a view to enhance the patient compliance and provide a quick onset of action. The oral disintegrating tablets were prepared by using different synthetic polymers by direct compression method. Development of the formulation in the present study was based on the concentration of superdisintegrants and the properties of the drug. Nine batches of tablets were formulated and evaluated for various parameters: drug content, weight variation, water absorption ratio, wetting time, in vitro disintegration, hardness, friability, thickness uniformity, and in vitro dissolution. A fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study showed that there were no significant interactions between the drug and the excipients. The prepared tablets were good in appearance and showed acceptable results for hardness and friability. The in vitro disintegrating time of the formulated tablets was found to be 14.39-32.41 sec and the drug content of tablets in all formulations was found to be between 87.48-99.96 %, which complied within the limits established in the Indian pharmacopeia. The study concluded that taste of the drug was masked with the help of sodium saccarhin, flavor and the concentration of super disintegrating agent increases the disintegration time of tablets get decreases. The formulation (F9) had a minimum disintegration time of 14.39 sec and 99.96 % of the drug was released within 20 min.