Development of a New Controlled Release Theophylline Tablet: In Vitro and in Vivo Studies

Abstract

Five formulations of controlled release theophylline tablets, specially shaped to a multi scored approximately rectangular structure, manually dividable accurately and conveniently into bisectional or trisectional subdosage units were prepared, using ethyl cellulose/hydroxypropylcellulose and Eudragit RL. The influence of two parameters (fillers, granulation) on the dissolution rate of all tablets was studied. It was found that granulation yields greater retardation in dissolution rate, in comparison to direct compression. No significant differences were found among the fillers used, concerning the dissolution rate.