Articles Accepted

The objective of the present research work was to design a core-in-cup type pulsatile system of an antihypertensive drug (carvedilol phosphate) to reduce the evening and early-morning symptoms of hypertension. An inclusion complex of this drug was prepared with hydroxyl propyl beta cyclodextrin to increase carvedilol solubility. Using direct compression technique, different batches of core tablets were prepared using cross-carmellose sodium as a superdisintegrant. Core tablets of the optimized formulation were press coated with backing layer and release-retarding plug layer. The physicochemical parameters of the core-in-cup tablets were evaluated and an in-vitro release study conducted. A batch containing sodium alginate (100 mg) and HPMC K4M (100 mg) was identified as the optimized batch on the basis of the lag time of 8 h, after which there was pulse release. Thus, the dual-release core-in-cup pulsatile tablets may be used for managing the chronological symptoms of hypertension.