title: Novel levocetirizine HCl tablets with enhanced palatability: synergistic effect of combining taste modifiers and effervescence technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Levocetirizine HCl, a second-generation piperazine derivative and H1-selective antihistaminic agent, possesses few side effects. The first objective of the study was to compare and evaluate the taste-masking effect of different ratios of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and mannitol on levocetirizine HCl using an inclusion complex and solid dispersion, respectively. The second objective was to study the possibility of preparing and evaluating effervescent tablets from the best-chosen taste-masked blends for the purpose of their use either as orodispersible tablets or as water-soluble effervescent tablets, according to patients' will.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prepared taste-masked blends were prepared and subjected to palatability, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry studies. Tablets containing different percentages of effervescent mixtures were prepared by direct compression on the selected taste-modified blends. Evaluation tests were conducted, including flowability and compressibility on the precompressed blends and hardness, friability, wetting time, effervescent time, in vitro, in vivo disintegration time, and in vitro dissolution study on the compressed tablets. Formulated tablets were evaluated and compared to marketed orodispersible tablets for mouth feel and palatability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All prepared tablets showed convenient physical and palatability properties compared to the selected brand. The in vitro drug-release study revealed fast release of levocetirizine HCl within 5 minutes from all prepared tablets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levocetirizine HCl effervescent tablets are likely to increase patient compliance with drug administration. Moreover, the use of these effervescent tablets in an orodispersible dosage form can improve oral drug bioavailability and act as an attractive pediatric dosage form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gihan S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Labib
mesh_terms: D000073738:2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D000284:Administration, Oral; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D019245:Compressive Strength; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006244:Hardness; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008353:Mannitol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D012212:Rheology; D012995:Solubility; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013607:Tablets; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005421:Flavoring Agents; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D013607:Tablets; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000073738:2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D008353:Mannitol; C472067:levocetirizine; D017332:Cetirizine
keywords: 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin; antihistaminic; effervescent tablets; mannitol; taste masking