Oral route is the most widely preferred route for the administration of the drug. The drug losartan used in the treatment of hypertension has been formulated in the form of floating tablets. Losartan is the first orally available angiotensin-receptor antagonist without agonist properties. Following oral administration, losartan is rapidly absorbed, reaching maximum concentrations 1-2 hours post-administration. After oral administration approximately 14% of a losartan dose is converted to the pharmacologically active E 3174 metabolite. E 3174 is 10- to 40-fold more potent than its parent compound and its estimated terminal half-life ranges from 6 to 9 hours, in order to increase the half life of the drug it has been formulated in the form of floating tablets. The losartan potassium floating tablets were prepared using different low density polymers (Bees Wax, HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M, Ethyl Cellulose, Micro Crystalline Cellulose) in various proportions for prolongation of gastric residence time and to improve the patience compliance. The losartan potassium floating tablets were prepared by melt granulation method using 23 factorial design by taking drug release and total floating time and floating lag time as dependent variables, with the help of design expert software version 10. The losartan floating tablets were evaluated for friability, thickness, hardness, weight variation test, drug content, swelling index and in-vitro release, floating properties. The drug excipients compatibility studies between the drug and the excipients were evaluated by FT-IR. All the batches showed compliance with pharmacopoeial standards. Formulation F6 containing HPMC k15M showed sustained drug release for 6h (91%) emerging as best formulation. Percentage swelling index studies reveals that increasing polymer concentration percentage swelling was also increased. An in-vitro buoyancy study reveals that all batches showed good in-vitro buoyancy. Hence different low density polymers such as HPMCK15M, HPMC K4M and bees wax and in various proportions can be used to prepare losartan potassium floating tablets for prolongation of gastric residence time with enhanced patience compliance.
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