FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MEDICATED EFFERVESCENT BATH BOMBS OF DICLOFENAC SODIUM FOR TOPICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

Objective: The present study aims to formulate and evaluate a medicated effervescent bath bomb containing Diclofenac sodium for topical pain management. The objective was to develop a stable, patient-friendly formulation that provides effective relief from muscle pain, joint pain, and inflammation through enhanced drug release and skin absorption. Experimental work: Preformulation studies were carried out including solubility analysis, melting point determination, and compatibility studies using IR spectroscopy. Various excipients such as citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, starch, and essential oils were selected. Screening of solvents and binders was performed to optimize formulation parameters. The bath bombs were prepared using the effervescent method by mixing dry ingredients followed by addition of binding agents and compression into molds. Evaluation parameters included physical appearance, weight variation, hardness, pH determination, effervescence time, drug content, and in-vitro drug release studies. Results and discussion: The prepared formulations showed acceptable physical characteristics with uniform weight and adequate hardness. The pH was found to be skin compatible. Effervescence time was within the desired range indicating proper reaction between acid and base components. Drug content was uniform across all batches. In-vitro drug release studies demonstrated effective release of Diclofenac sodium from the optimized formulation. Among all batches, the optimized formulation showed better stability, faster effervescence, and improved drug release profile, making it suitable for topical therapeutic use. Conclusion: The study successfully developed a medicated effervescent bath bomb formulation of Diclofenac sodium with satisfactory evaluation parameters. The formulation provides a convenient and effective alternative for topical pain relief, enhancing patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy.