FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF A LACOSAMIDE MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL TABLETS

Devakamma Lakumalla*, Dr. P. Neeraja, Dr. M. Ravikumar, B. Swathi

This study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of mucoadhesive buccal tablets containing lacosamide, an antiepileptic drug, to enhance its bioavailability and provide sustained therapeutic effects. Buccal delivery offers advantages such as bypassing first-pass metabolism, rapid onset, and improved patient compliance. Due to lacosamide’s low oral bioavailability and short half-life, buccal tablets were prepared using natural and synthetic polymers to optimize mucoadhesion, drug release, and mechanical properties. Polymers including Carbopol 934 and Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were evaluated for mucoadhesive strength and controlled release. Tablets were formulated by direct compression and assessed for hardness, friability, weight variation, thickness, Swelling index drug content uniformity and surface pH. In vitro mucoadhesion and drug release studies were conducted under simulated buccal conditions. The optimized Carbopol 934 and HPMC-combination based formulation (F1) showed strong mucoadhesive properties compatible with buccal mucosa and released 95% of lacosamide within one hour. Comparative studies with the marketed product (Lacosam 50®) confirmed the formulation’s potential as an effective buccal delivery system. Further in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies are recommended to validate its clinical efficacy.