DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF FAST DISSOLVING TABLETS OF GLIMEPIRIDE

The objective of the current study was to assess the feasibility of developing fast dissolving tablets of glimepiride for type-2 diabetic patients, by direct compression and sublimation techniques. The formulations were prepared by direct compression method using super disintegrants like crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium and hydroxy propyl cellulose. Formulations by sublimation technique were prepared using camphor. The prepared tablets were evaluated for weight variation, hardness, friability, drug content, wetting time, thickness and disintegration time. Dissolution studies were carried out with USP type II dissolution apparatus using phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at 37 ± 0.5°C. The properties of the tablets did not show any significant variations and were found to have good physical integrity except with disintegration time and wetting time. In vitro release studies indicate higher drug dissolution rate in two formulations and were subjected to stability studies. The stability data suggested that the prepared formulations were stable during the study period. Given the excellent data, it can be concluded that the fast dissolving tablets of glimepiride can be formulated by direct compression and sublimation techniques.