FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FLOATING MATRIX TABLETS OF TAPENTADOL HCL K. Venkateswara Reddy1* , Shimoga Nagaraj Sriharsha1 and S. Sujatha

The objective of the present study is to evaluate HPMC K100M, HPMC K15M and carbopol 934P as matrix formers in this design of floating tablets of tapentadol, a poorly water soluble drug. Floating tablet s of tapentadol (100 mg) were formulated employing (i) HPMC K100M (ii) HPMC K15M and (iii) Carbopol 934P as matrix formers at 30% and 50% strength, sodium bicarbonate at 7.5%, 10% & 12.5% strength as gas generating agent and the tablets were evaluated for floating and drug releases characteristics. Tapentadol floating tablets formulated employing HPMC K100M and HPMC K15M as matrix formers at 50% strength and containing sodium bicarbonate (12.5%) as gas generating agent exhibited floating over 36 to 48 h with a floating lag time of less than 1 min. These floating tablets also gave slow and controlled release of tapentadol over 24 h and were found suitable for once a day administration (24 h). HPMC K100M and HPMC K15M were better suitable as matrix formers than Carbopol 934P for floating tablets of tapentadol, a poorly water soluble drug. Key Words: Floating tablets, tapentadol Hydrochloride, HPMC K100M, Carbopol, and zero order release.