Design and characterization of controlled release gastro-retentive floating tablet of an atypical psychotropic agent

The purpose of the present work was to design and evaluate the once daily sustained release matrix type gastro-retentive floating tablet of Quetiapine Fumarate base on hydrophilic matrices of HPMC, sodium CMC and Carbopol. Sodium bicarbonate was incorporated as a gas-generating agent to give buoyancy. In-vitro drug release studies were performed in pH 1.2 buffer using USP type II paddle at 50 rpm. The release rate of drug decreased with increasing polymer proportion of HPMC K15M from 20 to 60 mg. Formulation with desired drug release achieved with combination of sodium CMC and K15M in ratio of 1:3. The drug release mechanism was predominantly found to be Non-Fickian diffusion and Higuchi controlled.