Effect of Varying Parameters on the Properties of Effervescent Paracetamol Tablets for Paediatrics

Aims: This study was aimed to determine the effect of varying parameters on the properties of effervescent paracetamol tablets for paediatrics.

Study Design: This analytical study was carried out on effervescent paracetamol tablets formulated with differing formulation parameters.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University and Abraka from April 2017 to November, 2017.

Methodology: Different formulations of effervescent paracetamol tablets were produced through wet granulation method using varied concentrations of citric acid (15, 20 and 25 %) and sodium bicarbonate (15, 20 and 25 %) as the major effervescent ingredients. The powder blends were evaluated for angle of repose, tapped and bulk density to determine its flow property. The prepared tablets were further evaluated using the unofficial test for hardness, friability and thickness as well as the official tests for weight uniformity, disintegration time, carbon dioxide (CO2) content, water content and pH.

Results: Angle of repose ranged from 23.96 ± 1.97o - 28.84 ± 0.91o, Hausner’s ratio ranged from 1.16 ± 0.02 – 1.25 ± 0.02 while Carr’s index ranged from 14 ± 1.73 - 20 ± 1.15. All the granules had good flow properties while granules for F3 was the optimized formulation. Friability values were from 0.38 - 0.39 %. Tablets disintegrated between 3 ± 43.06 to 5 ± 16.3 min. The effervescence time in all formulations was between 3 to 5 mins with batch F3 giving the best effervescence time.

Conclusion: Granules made with Formulation F3 had the optimized flow characteristics. Effervescent paracetamol tablets containing 25% each of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate had the most desired properties as increase in both the concentration of the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate led to a decrease in the disintegration and effervescence time.