DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL TABLETS OF RIZATRIPTAN BENZONATE

The present study was aimed at the design and evaluation of mucoadhesive buccal tablets of Rizatriptan Benzoate for the effective management of migraine. Buccal drug delivery offers several advantages, including avoidance of first-pass metabolism, improved bioavailability, prolonged drug residence time, and enhanced patient compliance. Mucoadhesive buccal tablets of Rizatriptan Benzoate were formulated using Sodium Alginate and Carbopol 934P as mucoadhesive polymers by the direct compression method.Preformulation studies including organoleptic evaluation, melting point determination, solubility studies, calibration curve preparation, and FTIR compatibility studies were carried out. The drug was found to be a white to off-white crystalline powder, freely soluble in water and methanol, and compatible with the selected excipients. Four formulations (F1–F4) were prepared with varying concentrations of polymers and evaluated for pre-compression and post-compression parameters.The powder blends exhibited satisfactory flow properties with acceptable bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, compressibility index, and Hausner ratio values. The prepared tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, drug content, swelling index, and in vitro drug release studies. All formulations complied with pharmacopoeial specifications and showed satisfactory physicochemical characteristics. Among the formulations, F4 exhibited the highest cumulative drug release of 98.42% within 8 hours and showed superior swelling characteristics compared to the other formulations.Stability studies of the optimized formulation (F4) conducted under different storage conditions for three months demonstrated no significant changes in drug release behavior, confirming its stability. The results indicated that the formulated mucoadhesive buccal tablets of Rizatriptan Benzoate can serve as a promising alternative delivery system for migraine treatment by providing prolonged drug release and improved therapeutic efficacy. Keywords: Rizatriptan Benzoate, Mucoadhesive Buccal Tablets, Sodium Alginate, Carbopol 934P, Buccal Drug Delivery, In Vitro Drug Release, Stability Studies.