Preparation and characterization of time controlled drug delivery system of sumatriptan using natural polymers

Time controlled drug delivery systems are designed to release the drug after a predetermined lag time to synchronize the disease circadian rhythm. Sumatriptan is an effective treatment for acute migraine attacks in which this disease show circadian rhythm between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. The aim of this work is to prepare time-controlled press-coated tablet that was given at bed time to act at early morning with a lag time of 5.45 hours. Six formulas of fast dissolving core tablets and three formulas of press-coated tablets were prepared by using direct compression method using different variables to prepare core tablets which include: different types and concentrations of superdisintegrants while different concentrations of natural and synthetic polymers were utilized in preparation of press-coated tablets. The obtained results showed that formula F4 of core tablet, which contained 25 milligrams of sumatriptan, 5% w/w sodium starch glycolate and avicel PH 102 as diluent, was the selected formula that showed the fastest and complete release of sumatriptan. Also, formula C3 of press-coated tablet , which contained pectin: EC100 mpa.s: HPMCK15M in concentration30 milligrams: 10 milligrams:160 milligrams respectively, was selected as the best coating layer since it gave 5.45 hours lag time .