Fexofenadine Hydrochloride

Nasal mucosa has been considered as a potential administration route to achieve faster and higher levels of drug absorption because it is permeable to more compounds than the gastrointestinal tract. It is an attractive route of administration due to lack of pancreatic and gastric enzymatic activity, neutral pH of the nasal mucus and less dilution by gastrointestinal contents. In-situ gel forming systems have been developed to prolong the nasal residence time of a drug and improve nasal bioavailability. Fexofenadine hydrochloride is one of the most widely used drugs for allergic rhinitis. It is an anti-histaminic and is available in oral dosage forms. The present work is aimed at designing a gel formula for nasal administration. To enhance therapeutic effect of the nasal formulation of fexofenadine hydrochloride pH sensitive polymers were used. Xanthan gum and Carbopol 934 were selected as independent variables in the factorial design. Solubility of the drug in the formulation was enhanced by using Tween 80. Evaluation parameters of the formulation like pH, clarity; rheological study both formulation i.e. solution and performed gel, gelling time, drug content, in-vitro drug diffusion study, stability studies were performed. The formulations so designed shall enhance bioavailability of drug and offer better therapeutic outcomes, offer aesthetically appealing dosage form to increase patient compliance and shall overcome side effects and limitations of other dosage forms of marketed preparations.

The pivotal motif of the present research work is to develop immediate release tablets of Fexofenadine hydrochloride. The rate of dissolution and bioavailability of the Fexofenadine HCL may be increased by using superdisintegrant in its immediate release tablets. Direct compression method was adapted to prepare the tablets by using lactose, microcrystalline cellulose as filler, crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate as superdisintegrant in different concentration (2-8%). Tablet were prepared and evaluated for Hardness, friability, weight variation, content uniformity, wetting time, disintegration time and in-vitro drug release. Disintegration time decreased with increase in the level of crospovidone. Whereas, disintegration time increased with increase in the level of sodium starch glycolate. The results indicate that the selected batch of tablet formulation containing crospovidone provides DT between 3-6 minutes with sufficient crushing strength and accepted friability. It was concluded that immediate release tablet for Fexofenadine hydrochloride can be formulated for fast treatment of allergic rhinitis