Objective: The main aim of the present research work was to formulate fast dissolving tablets of famotidine by direct compression method and to evaluate the effect of synthetic super disintegrating agent on drug release pattern.

Methods: The fast dissolving tablets were prepared by using crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate as superdisintegrants (2, 4 and 6 %w/w), mannitol 20 % and microcrystalline cellulose (44, 46 and 48 % w/w) as a directly compressible vehicle. All the prepared tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, drug content uniformity, weight variation, disintegrating time, wetting time and in vitro drug release studies.

Results: All the prepared fast dissolving tablets formulations were within the Pharmacopoeial standards limits. Based on in vitro drug release studies (>90 % within 30 min), the optimised formulations were optimised tested for the short term stability (at 40 ˚C/75% RH for 3 mo) and drug excipient interaction (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy).

Conclusion: Hence, formulation prepared with 6 % w/w of crosspovidine and 44 % w/w of microcrystalline cellulose as emerged as the overall best formulation (>90 % within 30 min) compared to marketed product (>70 % within 30 min). Short-term stability studies on the formulations indicated that there are no significant changes in drug content and in vitro drug release (p<0.05).
Keywords: Famotidine, Croscarmellose sodium, Crosspovidine, Sodium starch Glycolate, Fast dissolving tablets