PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CONTROLLED-RELEASE TENOXICAM TABLETS

Controlled release tenoxicam granules were prepared after an initial screening procedure by using various film-forming polymers as a binder in the formulation or molecular dispersion of the drug in the polymer matrix. The dissolution patterns of the drug-polymer granules or compressed tablets are investigated. The influence of different channeling agents on the percentage of tenoxicam release from granules was studied. The decreasing order in the drug release was as follows: Pluronic F-127 > avicel > aerosil > carbopol 934. The tablets were made from formulations containing high content of the polymer with avicel or carbopol 934 as a channeling agent. The release rate of the drug was evaluated in phosphate buffer pH 7.2. The mechanism of drug release appeared to be due to first-order and diffusion mechanisms.