Preparation of floating pellets with verapamil hydrochloride

The aim of this paper is to prepare a floating drug formulation in a gelatin capsule filled with tens of pellets with verapamil hydrochloride (VH) in a dose of 40 mg. The better solubility of VH in an acidic environment of the stomach may result in a greater amount of the drug absorbed. Pellets were prepared by wet granulation of a powder mixture, spheronization of the granulated mass and coating of the cores with aqueous dispersions of polymethylmethacrylate. Sodium hydrocarbonate contained in pellet cores ensures the flotation effect. Proper rate of VH release from pellets was obtained by a coating film of 25-105 microm thickness. Pellets of 1.25-1.6 mm size with a film of 75-85 microm thickness of considerably constant rate released the whole dose of VH in 6 h. During that time the pellets floated on the surface of the receptor solution.