FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF LOSARTAN POTASSIUM AND REPAGLINIDE BILAYER TABLETS

The purpose of this study is to formulate and evaluate bilayer anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic tablets. Bilayer tablet contains Losartan potassium for immediate release and Repaglinide for a sustained release. The bilayer tablets were prepared using crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate as super-disintegrants for the immediate release layer, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose K 100M and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose K 15M as polymers at various concentrations to retard the release of drug for a period of time. Immediate release layer was prepared by direct compression and wet granulation method was followed for sustained release. FTIR studies revealed that there was no incompatibility between drugs and excipients. The tablets were evaluated for weight variation test, hardness, thickness, friability, tablet disintegration time, content uniformity and in vitro dissolution studies. In vitro drug release studies were performed using the type-II dissolution apparatus (paddle) using 0.1N Hydrochloric acid for first 2 hours and the remaining hours with 6.8 pH phosphate buffer. Among all the formulations, optimized formulation F5 showed a maximum of 99.4% drug release at 45 minutes for Losartan potassium and Repaglinide has an in vitro drug release of 99.87%. Therefore, bilayer tablets in combination of these two drugs can be used to improve the management of hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes mellitus. –II. Keywords: Bilayer tablet, Losartan Potassium, Crospovidone, and Sodium starch glycolate, Repaglinide, Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose K100M, Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose K15M.