Formulation and Evaluation of Taste Masked Orally Disintegrating Tablets of Itopride HCl Using Hydrophillic Polymers as Drug Carrier

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are focus of drug delivery research due to ease of administration and enhanced patient compliance. Aims of the study are to develop taste masked ODTs of itopride HCl by direct compression. In the present study hydrophilic polymers (HPMC and PVP) were applied as carrier for taste masking of itopride HC1. ODTs were prepared by direct compression using varying levels of super disintegrants. Taste evaluation was carried out by panel testing and spectrophotometric method. Prior to compression, all the formulations were evaluated for various rheological characteristics and compressed tablets were evaluated for various official and unofficial parameters. Complete taste masking was achieved with HPMC-k4M at 1:4 while higher concentration of PVP was required to achieve same level of taste masking. ODTs showed high mechanical strength and rapid disintegration. From the study it is concluded that taste of itopride HC1 could be masked efficiently using hydrophyllic polymers as carrier. Taste masked ODTs with rapid disintegration and higher mechanical strength can be prepared by direct compression using combination of hydrophilic excipients and super disintegrants.