Stability Improvement of Amlodipine Maleate Tablets using Aqueous Polymer Coating Technique

New formulations of amlodipine maleate tablet have been investigated to enhance the stability of the drug against light and humidity. Three kinds of amlodipine maleate tablets were prepared. One is prepared by previously known formulation (formulation C), the others were by new formulations using hydrophilic polymer $(Opadry^{\circledR})$ coated granules (formulations A and B). Amlodipine maleate powder was coated with $Opadry^{\circledR}$ to produce the coated granules and it was mixed with other excipients to produce the tabletting mass of new formulations A and B. Dissolution rate of newly formulated tablets was over 80% within 10 minutes in 0.01 M HCl medium, and its dissolution pattern was similar to that of $Norvasc^{\circledR}$ tablet. After 6 months storage under accelerated conditions, residual drug contents of tested formulations (A and B) were not significantly different from formulation C, ranging from 96.2 to 100.4%. Meanwhile, dissolution amount of formulation C was significantly reduced compared to that of formulation A (p<0.05), showing formulation A was more stable than unprotected formulation C at the accelerated conditions. Results of appearance, hardness and disintegration remained unchanged during stability study. In conclusion, it showed that the new formulations had enhanced the stability characteristics and hydrophilic coating technique was an alternative and promising method to improve the stability of amlodipine maleate tablet.

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