FORMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF ORODISPERSIBLE TABLETS OF OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL

Olmesartan medoxomil (OLM) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker used for the treatment of hypertension. In this work an attempt was made to mask the metallic taste and enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble OLM by formulating it as inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) as complexing agent in 1:1 molar ratio. The drug – CDs complexes were prepared by physical mixing and co-evaporation methods. The complex formation with in solid state was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry, differential scanning colorimetry and by scanning electron microscope analysis. From the prepared inclusion complexes, orodispersible tablets (ODTs) were formulated by using various superdisintegrants like sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and crospovidone in various concentrations (5-15%). Prepared tablets were evaluated for physical parameters and drug release by in vitro dissolution studies. ODTs containing SSG (15%) as super-disintegrant showed fastest disintegration and in vitro drug release. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrates that the combination of inclusion complexation and using of superdisintegrants was a promising approach in the preparation of tastes masked ODTs of OLM.