Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE MATRIX TABLETS OF TAPENTADOL HCL

K. Venkateswara Reddy*, S. Sujatha and Shimoga Nagaraj Sriharsha

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to prepare sustained release tablets of tapentadol HCl using a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. Tapentadol is a centrally-acting opioid analgesic indicated for the management of moderate to severe chronic pain and neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in adults. For the treatment of chronic and moderate pain a steady blood concentration is essentially required as it is freely soluble BCS I drug. Matrix tablets were prepared using hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers like hydroxy propyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K100M, xanthan gum and Eudragits either alone or in combinations by direct compression method and evaluated for various physical and chemical parameters. Hydrophilic matrix tablets failed to prolong the drug release, whereas hydrophobic based matrix tablets showed lesser release of drug. The combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers matrix tablets showed zero order kinetics and release mechanism was non-fickian diffusion controlled. The release has shown that the tablets can be alternative for conventional Tapentadol tablets.

Keywords: Sustained release, Tapentadol Hydrochloride, HPMC K100M, Xanthan gum Eudragits and zero order release.