Quality-by-design based development of fast dispersible nimodipine tablets: Formulation attributes and release kinetic assessment

In the present study fast dispersible nimodipine tablets were developed by direct compression method using quality by design (QbD) approach as per the central composite design by selecting avicel PH 102 (X1) and crospovidone (X2) as independent variables while % friability (R1), disintegration (R2) and hardness (R3) as output variables. Powder blends were assessed for flow characterization. At post compressional stage, several quality assessments were carried out. Particles morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The stability study on the drug and optimized formulation were determined using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). RSM plots expressed the interaction of avicel PH 102 and crospovidone to determine the adequate quantities of excipients for the optimized formulation. Polynomial equations were used to validate the experimental design. The optimized formulations were evaluated for friability, disintegration and hardness. Results indicated that formulation (F4) containing avicel PH 102 (35%) and crospovidone (5%) was selected as best optimized formulation having friability 0.59%, disintegration 9 sec, % dissolution 95.703% and hardness 4.14 kg. Results of kinetics models indicated that all the developed formulations followed weibull model.

Evaluation of pharmacokinetic interactions of amoxicillin with ranitidine in healthy human volunteers of Karachi, Pakistan

Polypharmacy may be considered as the customary practice to provide optimum care services to patients but inter resulted in augmented probability of multiple drug interaction. Keeping in view the importance of drug interaction possibility, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of ranitidine on pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin in the local population of Karachi, Pakistan. Amoxicillin and ranitidine are the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat duodenal ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori. The current investigation was carried out as a single center, open label, two phase, single dose, randomized way in cross over manner to evaluate the potential of pharmacokinetic interaction among amoxicillin formulation and ranitidine in adult healthy male volunteers. Post dosing blood samples were collected at multiple time points that are 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hours after administering amoxicillin 250mg capsule with and without ranitidine. For estimation of amoxicillin concentration in plasma, an HPLC method was developed and validated. The solvent system consisted of 0.025M phosphate buffer: acetonitrile (94:6 v/v). C18 column was employed with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/minute and at 230nm. A linear pattern with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 in the concentration ranges of 25μg/mL to 0.097μg/mL for amoxicillin and 25μg/mL to 0.048μg/mL for ranitidine was observed. Amoxicillin retention time was about 8 minutes and ranitidine retention time was around 12 minutes. Amoxicillin levels were computed and the concentrations were applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by Kinetica TM 4.4.1 (Thermo Electron Corp. USA). The analysis of variance (two way) and t test (two one sided) were applied on log transformed pharmacokinetic parameters of amoxicillin. The T_max was determined between amoxicillin alone and amoxicillin with ranitidine by Friedman test. The 90% confidence interval values for C_max(calc) (0.687–0.743) and T_max(calc) (1.148–1.742) for amoxicillin with or without ranitidine were not found within the FDA acceptable limits of 0.8–1.25. Study demonstrated the significant reduction in peak plasma levels of amoxicillin in presence of ranitidine. It is advisable to administer both drugs with time interval to avoid such interactions and increases in the bactericidal efficacy of amoxicillin.

Formulation development of directly compressible mebevarine tablets using superdisintegrant: A way to investigate quality atributes, in vitro release kinetics and stability profile

In order for preparing a solid oral dosage form, tablet quality is of significant concern. Compressibility behavior of different powders and mixtures of formulations and release pattern of any tablets are characteristic measures to define prerequisite quality attributes of any compressed formulations. There are basically two major methods that can be adopted for the preparation of tablets including granulation and direct compression. Later process offer fewer processing steps and agreeable release profile with acceptable quality parameters and hence preferred over granulation method. In this investigation Mebeverine hydrochloride an anti-muscarinic drug is studied for compression and release behavior using various concentrations of filler binders and disintegrants via rotatable central composite design (CCRD) option of design expert (software). Nine formulations were developed from F1 to F9 with Crospovidone (superdisintegrant) as (X₁) (-α=1.17% to ± α=6.83%) and microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel 102, Filler/binder) as X2 (-α = 29.82% to ± α = 65.18%). Disintegration Time (DT) as (R₁) and Hardness in (kg) as (R₂) were determined as two dependent response variables. The performance of powder blends and formulations was analyzed by micromeritic and physico-chemical and assessments. Dissolution comparisons were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and model dependent and in-dependent methods. Best fit model was found to be Hixon-crowell's model (r² = 0.995) followed by Weibull's model (r² = 0.985). The Trial formulations F2, F4, F6 and F8 were also studied on accelerated conditions (40±5ºC 75%±5% RH) for stability tests and validity of the formulations in months were also determined between 35-39 months.

Exploration of clinical management system: Career ladders, working model and reforms; a cross sectional estimate from Karachi, Pakistan

Clinical and hospital pharmacy services are not just medical and pharmaceutical sciences but also occupy significant placement in healthcare system. Pakistan is a developing state with a huge prerequisite for changes in the general wellbeing framework, specially hospital and clinical aspect of pharmaceutical services. The principal intention of this study is to analyze the services offered by different pharmacies in hospitals of Karachi in terms of infrastructure and personnel service qualities. The study was conducted in a cross sectional way that included stratified sampling technique. Reactions were broken down utilizing descriptive and inferential insights of measurements. The fundamental result procedures incorporated the scope of hospital pharmacy services, the general recruitment of clinical drug specialists (pharmacist), the product and equipment used in hospital pharmacy services, the background of staff (educational), acquisition of proficient training mode, practical involvement and experience. The clinical pharmacy facilities coverage mutually on the departmental scale (median =22.43%) and patient scale (median =17.25%) do not comply the 100% coverage that is obligatory for standard practices. In addition, 48.65% of the pooled hospitals data has shown absence of distinct administration rules for hospital and clinical pharmacists, and 45.33% lacks the use of rational drug software. It is concluded that important parameters like drug monitoring, medication records keeping; appropriate drug information software's and quality assurance in hospitals still need attention for better patient outcomes.

Formulation development and optimization studies of mouth dissolving tablets of tizanidine HCl

The purpose of this research was the development and optimization of mouth dissolving tablets (MDT) of Tizanidine hydrochloride using superdisintegrant. MDTs of Tizanidine (4mg) were manufactured by direct compression method. Formulations comprised of Tizanidine and excipients including croscarmellose sodium, Avicel PH 102, aspartame, orange flavor and magnesium stearate. Blends of powder were assessed for flow characterization and then compressed by direct compression. During post compression stage, a detail evaluation of tablets with respect to weight variation, hardness, thickness, disintegration time, wetting time, friability, drug content analysis, content uniformity, palatability and dissolution studies was carried out. All the formulations complied with the pharmacopeial requirements of weight, disintegration time and assay. Amongst the trial formulations F4 with concentration of croscarmellose sodium i.e. 5% was proved as best optimized due to satisfactory quality attributes such as least disintegration time and sufficient hardness. Hence, it was concluded that manufacturing of mouth dissolving tablets by addition of superdisintegrant is beneficial for treating patients with dysphagia.

Drug utilization evaluation of Piperacillin/Tazobactam: A prospective and cross sectional investigation in tertiary care setup

Drug utilization evaluation (DUE) is an arrangement of continuous, orderly, criteria-based assessment of medication utilizes to guarantee that medicines are utilized suitably. In the event that treatment is regarded to be improper, provider and patient intervention may be important to optimize therapeutic efficacy. In the present study drug utilization evaluation of Piperacillin/Tazobactam was carried out in prospective manner. A well structured data collection form was constructed to collect the related information regarding demographic, clinical use, indication, culture sensitivity criteria, outcomes of therapy, renal impairment cases of dose adjustments and appropriate use. Results of chi square indicated insignificant relationship between gender and as p value was found to be p=0.446 and 0.111 for use of drug alone and in combination. Similarly insignificant relationship between gender and use of drug in combination with other antibiotics as p value was found to be p=0.111. It was found that from 61-70 years (Therapeutic Effectiveness; n=12, 9.37%), (Therapeutic Failure; n=10, 45.45%) and mortality (n=1, 50%) were quite higher. The prescription pattern was in accordance with standard guidelines. Study indicated need to elevate prescribers to pursue generic prescribing and rationally utilize antibiotics to avert advancement of resistance at the level of hospital and community. These sorts of studies are valuable for acquiring data about medication utilize designs and for recognizing inconceivable expense of medicines.