Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF CITALOPRAM HYDROCHLORIDE LOZENGES

*Malyala Manaswini, Gottiparthi Sai Veda

Abstract

Despite the presence of many dosage forms available in the market, lozenges possess a significant role, as they are suitable for patients with swallowing difficulty. This study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of citalopram hydrochloride lozenges as an alternate dosage form, especially for geriatric patients. The lozenge formulation is designed to release citalopram hydrochloride slowly in the mouth. The main advantage of the lozenges over conventional tablets is that they reduce gastric irritation and avoid first-pass metabolism. These lozenges were made using polyethylene glycol as a base and glycerin as a solvent. The process involves melting polyethylene glycol at 50-55°C. The Citalopram HCl was mixed with glycerin to form a smooth paste, then added into the melted base with continuous stirring, then cooled and poured into lozenge molds. The prepared lozenges were evaluated for organoleptic properties, melting point, weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time, and in vitro drug release. All evaluation parameters were within an acceptable range.

Keywords: Citalopram Hydrochloride, Lozenges, Geriatric Drug Delivery, Swallowing Difficulty, Polyethylene Glycol Base, Controlled Release.