ABSTRACT:
Tramadol is an opoid medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. The onset of pain relief begins usually within an hour of administration. In the present study an attempt has been made to develop fast dissolving tablets (FDT’S) of tramadol hcl using ocimum basilicum gum as natural superdisintegrant to improve disintegration time, dissolution efficacy and patient compliance. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method using different concentrations of superdisintegrant. The tablets prepared were evaluated for weight variation, hardness, friability, drug content, water absorption ratio, wetting time, in vitro disintegration and in vitro dissolution rate. All the FDT’S prepared disintegrated within 28seconds. Formulation of five batches(F1-F5) out of which batch F3 was found to have better results in compare to other formulations. F3 tablets disintegrate within 13+0.48 sec, wetting time was 15+0.03 sec and, water absorption ratio(%) was 34+0.24 and percent drug release was 99.12+0.11% in 30 min. Extensive swelling, porosity and wicking action of the natural material in the fast dissolving tablet formulation were found to be contributing its superdisintegrant action as comparable to synthetic superdisintegrants shown in literature.