Formulation and evaluation of orodispersible tablets of theophylline

The main aim of present study is to formulate and evaluate orodispersible tablets of Theophylline. The demand for orodispersible tablets has been growing during the last decade, especially for the geriatric and pediatric patients who have been swallowing difficulties. Theophylline is a bronchodilator, which is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. In the present work, 9 formulations of orodispersible tablets of theophylline (f1 to f9) are prepared using three different super disintegrants namely crosspovidone, croscarmellose sodium and sodium starch glycolate by direct compression method. The final blend of drug and excipients were evaluated for powder flow properties, bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index and Hausner’s ratio. All the formulations were evaluated for weight variation, disintegration time, hardness, dissolution study, dispersion time, friability, drug content, wetting time and water absorption ratio. Formulation f3 showed the lowest dispersion and disintegration time and more water absorption ratios. Invitro dissolution studies revealed that formulation f3 showed 97.6% drug release at the end of 20 minutes. Therefore, overall results indicated that crosspovidone used formulation (F3) is a better one which satisfied all the criteria for orodispersible tablets of theophylline.