FORMULATION OPTIMISATION OF ONDANSETRON FLOATING TABLETS FOR GASTRIC RETENTION

Gastro retentive systems can remain in the stomach region for several hours and can significantly prolong the gastric residence time of drugs. Floating Drug Delivery Systems promises to be a potential approach for gastric retention. The objective of the present work is to formulate and optimize floating tablets of Ondansetron for gastric retention. Floating tablets of Ondansetron were prepared by direct compression method using polymers HPMC of various grades and sodium bicarbonate as gas forming agent. Floating tablets were evaluated for floating lag time, drug content and invitro dissolution profile. The lag time ranged between 29-4140 sec and buoyancy time for the formulations remained 24 hrs. Drug content was found to be under limits, Drug release percentage was between 31.56 -50.54 and kinetic studies showed the formulations fitting three models contributing for the study of factors affecting the drug release. It was clear that the ratios of polymers and Sodium bicarbonate affected the drug release and floating time. From the study it is evident that a promising controlled rele ase by floating tablets of Ondansetron can be developed