Abstract

Pulsatile drug delivery system of Venlafaxine Hydrochloride has been successfully prepared for oral delivery of drug. This is a type of controlled drug delivery system which shows sustained therapeutic action; with lag time where there is no release of the drug during initial lag phase of drug administration. Venlafaxine Pulsatile formulations were prepared using sodium alginate, pectin AS104, and sodium bicarbonate for obtaining required lag time. The prepared beads were examined for morphology using scanning electron microscopy, tested for entrapment efficiency and later filled into formaldehyde treated hard gelatin capsules. Drug release studies on the capsules filled with drug loaded beads showed a lag phase of 3hrs, 5hrs and 6 hrs respectively based on concentration of gelling agent used. Thus time delayed capsule device of Venlafaxine Hcl, a highly water soluble drug was prepared to avoid dose dumping and achieve time controlled release for chronotherapeutic delivery of drug.

Key words: Venlafaxine HCL, sodium alginate, Pectin AS104, Entrapment efficiency, Lag time; in vitro drug release.