Design and optimization of taste masking process for bitter tasting drugs

Abstract

Orally disintegrating tablet is an attractive and preferred dosage form in which the drug disintegrates or newlinedissolves in the buccal cavity without the need of water. This patient-centric drug delivery system is newlinedesigned to increase patient compliance across several patient population, especially geriatric and pediatrics newlinewho are most likely to suffer from dysphagia that is swallowing difficulties. This is particularly significant newlineas the world s population continues to grow, and people are living longer. These formulations are newlineconsidered easier to administer compared to classic dosage forms, like swallowable tablets and capsules, newlinesince there is no need for water. When disintegrated in the mouth (with just saliva), they offer faster onset newlineof action, better absorption and improved bioavailability making them attractive dosage formats for patients newlineand manufacturers. newlineDesigning these dosage forms has been limited by the unpleasant taste of the drug substance. Two such newlineunpleasant tasting drugs evaluate for the research purpose were Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride and newlinePioglitazone Hydrochloride. The first one Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride , is an antihistaminic drug, newlinewhich is white, crystalline, water-soluble powder used for the relief of symptoms associated with allergic newlinerhinitis in adults and children 6 years and above. The taste of levocetirizine dihydrochloride is generally newlinebitter. And the another one, Pioglitazone Hydrochloride is the hydrochloride salt of an orally active newlinethiazolidinedione with antidiabetic properties and potential antineoplastic activity. It is odorless, white newlinecrystalline powder and practically insoluble in water (BCS II drug). The taste of pioglitazone hydrochloride newlineis relatively unpleasant. newlineThe objective of the study was to develop orally disintegrating tablet of these two unpleasant tasting drug newlinemolecules by applying polymeric layer over drug particles and using these coated particles to formulate newlineorally disintegrating tablet. The study design for masking unpleasant taste of the dru