Controlled-release carvedilol

Comparative Study of Selected Excipients' Influence on Carvedilol Release from Hypromellose Matrix Tablets

Solid dosage forms based on hypromellose (HPMC) with prolonged/extended drug release are very important from the research and industrial viewpoint. In the present research, the influence of selected excipients on carvedilol release performance from HPMC-based matrix tablets was studied. A comprehensive group of selected excipients was used within the same experimental setup, including different grades of excipients. Compression mixtures were directly compressed using constant compression speed and main compression force. LOESS modelling was used for a detailed comparison of carvedilol release profiles via estimating burst release, lag time, and times at which a certain % of carvedilol was released from the tablets. The overall similarity between obtained carvedilol release profiles was estimated using the bootstrapped similarity factor (f₂). In the group of water-soluble carvedilol release modifying excipients, which produced relatively fast carvedilol release profiles, POLYOXᵀᴹ WSR N-80 and Polyglykol^® 8000 P demonstrated the best carvedilol release control, and in the group of water-insoluble carvedilol release modifying excipients, which produced relatively slow carvedilol release profiles, AVICEL^® PH-102 and AVICEL^® PH-200 performed best.

Controlled-release carvedilol in the management of systemic hypertension and myocardial dysfunction

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Within the treatment armamentarium, beta-blockers have demonstrated efficacy across the spectrum of cardiovascular disease--from modification of a risk factor (ie, hypertension) to treatment after an acute event (ie, myocardial infarction). Recently, the use of beta-blockers as a first-line therapy in hypertension has been called into question. Moreover, beta-blockers as a class are saddled with a misperception of having poor tolerability. However, vasodilatory beta-blockers such as carvedilol have a different hemodynamic action that provides the benefits of beta-blockade with the addition of vasodilation resulting from alpha 1-adrenergic receptor blockade. Vasodilation reduces total peripheral resistance, which may produce an overall positive effect on tolerability. Recently, a new, controlled-release carvedilol formulation has been developed that provides the clinical efficacy of carvedilol but is indicated for once-daily dosing. This review presents an overview of the clinical and pharmacologic carvedilol controlled-release data.