Development of terfenadine-pseudoephedrine double-layer tablet dissolution-equivalent to core tablet

Abstract

The terfenadine-pseudoephedrine dosage form discussed here is the sustained-release core tablet composed of outer (fast-release) and inner (sustained-release) layers. To develop the double-layer tablet dissolution-equivalent to a core tablet, the fast-release and sustained-release layers were prepared using various disintegrants and polymers, respectively. The layer composed of terfenadine/pseudoephedrine/ lactose/cornstarch/sodium bicarbonate/hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)/sodium lauryl sulfate/microcrystalline cellulose (60/10/90/30/20/1/40/1/293 mg), which gave the fast disintegration time and high dissolved amounts of drugs, was selected as the fast-release layer: The dissolved amounts of pseudoephedrine from sustained-release layers increased more with a smaller ratio of ethylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). Dissolution mechanism analysis showed the release of pseudoephedrine was proportional to the square root of time, indicating that drug might be released from the layers by Fickian diffusion. The layer composed of pseudoephedrine/ethylcellulose/HPMC (110/30/155 mg), which had similar dissolution amounts of pseudoephedrine as the inner layer of a core tablet, was selected as the sustained-release layer Furthermore, the dissolved amounts of drugs from the care and double-layer tablets had deviations of less than 5% against the average dissolved amounts of drugs at each rime. There was no significant difference between the dissolved amounts of drugs from these tablets at each time in pH 1.2, 4.0, and 6.8 (P >.05). Our results suggest chat this doable-layer tablet was a dissolution equivalent to the core tablet.