Abstract:
A film-coated extended release oral dosage composition containing the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine sulfate in a unique polymer matrix core and a film-coating on such core containing the non-sedating antihistamine, loratadine, and use of the said composition for treating patients showing the signs and symptoms associated with upper respiratory diseases and nasal congestion are disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a film-coated extended release oral dosage composition containing the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine in a unique polymer matrix core and a film-coating on such core containing the non-sedating antihistamine, loratadine. The oral dosage composition is useful for treating patients showing the signs and symptoms associated with upper respiratory diseases and nasal congestion. 
     Loratadine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,233 as a non-sedating antihistamine and it is useful as an anti-allergy agent in, for example, the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms such as sneezing and itching. 
     Pseudephedrine as well as pharmaceutically acceptable acid additional salts, e.g., those of HCl or H 2  SO 4 , is a sympathomimetic drug recognized by those skilled in the art as a safe therapeutic agent effective for treating nasal congestion and is commonly administered orally and comcomitantly with an antihistamine for treatment of nasal congestion associated with allergic rhinitis. For example, 5 mg of loratadine and 120 mg of pseudoephedrine sulfate (&#34;PES&#34;) in a matrix core repetab tablet product is available wherein the PES is equally distributed in the tablet coating and barrier core and all the loratadine is in the coating. The product is recommended for twice-a-day dosing for effectiveness. It would be desirable to have a once-a-day loratadine-pseudoephedrine product. 
     The successful development of a formulation of a loratadine-pseudoephedrine once-a-day product requires achieving a release rate profile for pseudoephedrine component over an extended period in excess of twelve hours while maintaining the safety and effectiveness of loratadine. Products containing non-sedating antihistamines in combination with pseudoephedrine such as Seldane-D, a press-coated product of terfenadine and pseudoephedrine and Hismanal-D, a combination of pseudoephedrine prills and a separate astemizole tablet are known. However, the administration of terfenadine and astemizole products to humans has been found to cause adverse effects including cardiac arrhythmias and occurrence of these arrhythmias have increased when the terfenadine or astemizole products are co-administered with other drugs such as ketoconazole and erythromycin or upon overdose of the non-sedating anti-histamine. 
     It would be desirable for increased patient compliance to have an extended release product effective and safe when used on a once-a-day basis. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     We have discovered that a film-coating of loratadine on a core tablet containing pseudoephedrine sulfate in a specific polymer matrix provides immediate release of loratadine and extended release of pseudoephedrine sulfate from the matrix core over a period in excess of twelve hours. 
     Thus the present invention provides a film-coated extended release oral dosage composition comprising: 
     a. a matrix core comprising: 
     
         ______________________________________               mg/core______________________________________Pseudoephedrine Sulfate                 120-360Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2208                 160-480100,000 cpsEthylcellulose         40-120Dibasic Calcium Phosphate Dihydrate                  56-164Povidone              20-60Silicon Dioxide        6-12andMagnesium Stearate    2-6Matrix Core Weight Range:                 400-1200 mg______________________________________ 
    
     and 
     b. a coating on said core comprising: 
     
         ______________________________________                mg/tablet______________________________________Loratadine              5-15Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2910 6 cps                  17-50Polyethylene Glycol 400                  0.25-5.0Polyethylene Glycol 3350                   3.4-10.15Approximate Coating Weight                   26-80.0 mgComposition Weight Range                  427-1280 mg______________________________________ 
    
     In a preferred aspects, the present invention provides film-coated extended release oral dosage composition comprising a 
     a. a matrix core comprising: 
     
         ______________________________________                   mg/core______________________________________Pseudoephedrine Sulfate   240Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2208 100,000 cps.                     160-480Ethylcellulose            40-120Dibasic Calcium Phosphate Dihydrate                     56-164Povidone                  20-60Silicon Dioxide           6-12andMagnesium Stearate        2-6Approximate Core Weight Range                     520-1080 mg______________________________________ 
    
     and 
     b. a coating on said core comprising: 
     
         ______________________________________                 mg/tablet______________________________________Loratadine              10Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2910 6 cps.                   17-50Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.25-5.0Polyethylene Glycol 3350                   3.4-10.15Approximate Coating Weight Range                   31-75     mgApproximate Composition Weight Range                   552-1155  mg______________________________________ 
    
     In a more preferred aspect, the present invention provides a film-coated extended release oral dosage composition comprising: 
     a. a matrix core 
     
         ______________________________________                     mg/core______________________________________Pseudoephedrine Sulfate USP 240Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2208 USP 100,000 cps                       320Ethylcellulose NF Type 7    80Dibasic Calcium Phosphate USP Dihydrate                       108Povidone USP                40Silicon Dioxide NF          8andMagnesium Stearate NF       4Approximate Matrix Core weight                       800    mg______________________________________ 
    
     and 
     b. a coating upon said core comprising: 
     
         ______________________________________                   mg/tablet______________________________________Loratadine, Micronized    10Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2910 USP 6 cps                     33Polyethylene Glycol 400 NF                     0.67Polyethylene Glycol 3350 NF                     6.75Color Dispersion (Solids) 6.25Approximate Coating Weight                     57      mgApproximate Composition Weight                     857     mg______________________________________ 
    
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     We have discovered a unique oral dosage composition containing a specific selection of ingredients including specific amounts of pseudoephedrine sulfate in a matrix core and of loratadine in an immediate release polymer film coating on the core. The oral dosage composition of this invention provides (1) immediate release (i.e., within one hour after oral administration to a patient) of the total dose of loratadine to maintain the once-a-day efficacy of Loratadine (2) the extended release of pseudoephedrine from the matrix polymer cover over a period of at least 12 preferably 12 to 16 hours and more preferably at least 16 hours from oral administration (3) reasonable dose size for enhancing patients&#39; compliance and (4) a shelf life of at least 24 months. 
     In the course of development of the oral dosage composition of this invention, it was discovered that the selection of the polymers for the polymer matrix core was critical to achieve the desired extended release period of at least 12 hours, preferably 12 to 16 hours and more preferably for at least 16 hours for pseudoephedrine. For example, the use of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 4,000 cps and 15,000 cps did not provide this desired extended release period for dose of pseudoephedrine sulfate. Only by combining four parts by weight of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 2208 USP, 100,000 cps with one part by weight of ethyl cellulose together with 1/2 part by weight of povidone as a secondary binder was the desired extended release profile for pseudoephedrine achieved. The matrix core also contains specific amounts of silicon dioxide as a glidant and magnesium stearate as a lubricant. The tablet hardness 22±6 Strong-Cobb Units (SCU) is not greatly affected by the higher level of lubricant (6 mg/tablet) but it is preferred to maintain the lubricant level at I/IO part by weight of lubricant to one part by weight of povidone as secondary binder. 
     The hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose 2910 acts as a film-forming agent in the film coating, and the polyethylene glycols act as plasticizers. Other suitable film-forming polymers which may be used include hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. 
     The oral dosage composition of this invention also provides a shelf life of more than 24 months, e.g., up to 36 and 48 months so long as the tablets are stored in standard package at between 2° and 30° C. in an ambient environment. 
     In the preparation of the tablet core the povidone is dissolved in a mixture of alcohol and water. The pseudoephedrine sulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2208 USP, 100,000 cps, ethylcellulose, and dibasic calcium phosphate are blended and granulated with the alcoholic water solution containing povidone. The granulation is milled, and dried to a loss on drying between 0.5 to 2.0%. 
     The dried granulation is milled and blended with requisite amounts of silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate. The final blend is compressed to produce the oral dosage composition in the preferred form of a tablet. 
     The coating is normally applied to the tablet cores in the following manner: 
     Cores are charged into a suitable coating pan. A water dispersion of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2910 USP and polyethylene glycol 3350 NF is applied to the cores. These sub-coated cores are then coated with a dispersion of loratadine, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2910 USP, polyethylene glycol 3350 NF and white color dispersion. This is followed by an application of polishing coating dispersion containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyethylene glycol 400 NF. The coated tablets are then branded (with black ink) and packaged in plastic bottles and blisters for storage at a temperature between 2° and 30° C. in an ambient environment 
     EXAMPLE I 
     This example illustrate preparation of the preferred oral dosage composition of this invention. The ingredients and specific amounts thereof are listed below. 
     1. Tablet Core 
     A. Method of Manufacture 
     1. Dissolve povidone in a mixture of alcohol and water. 
     2. Combine the pseudoephedrine sulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2208, ethylcellulose and dibasic calcium phosphate, dihydrate in a suitable mixing bowl and blend. 
     3. Granulate the blend from Step 2 with the solution from Step 1. pass the wet granulation through a screen. 
     4. Dry the granulation to a loss on drying between 0.5 to 2.0% as determined by a moisture balance or equivalent. 
     5. Pass the dried granules through a screen. 
     6. Add the requisite amount of silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate to the dried, milled granules and blend. 
     7. Compress the blend on a suitable tablet press. 
     During the compression operation, representative samples of the cores are taken and in-process tests are performed. 
     The core matrix meets the following specification: 
     Weight: 800±5% (mg) 
     Thickness: 0.280±0.010 inches 
     Hardness: 22±6 Strong-Cobb Units 
     The cores are coated in the following manners: 
     A. Preparation of Coating Dispersions and Solutions 
     1. Sub-Coating Solution 
     (1) Disperse hydroxypropyl methylcellulose USP 2910 and polyethylene glycol 3350 in a portion of hot purified water. 
     (2) Add the remainder of the purified water and cool the solution to room temperature. 
     2. Active Coating Dispersion 
     (1) Disperse hydroxypropyl methylcellulose USP 2910 and polyethylene glycol 3350 in a portion of hot purified water. Add additional water and cool the dispersion to room temperature. 
     (2) Disperse Loratadine in the remaining portion of room temperature purified water. Combine with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose polyethylene glycol dispersion (Step 1). 
     (3) Add white color dispersion. Mix until uniform. 
     3. Polishing Coating Solution 
     (1) Disperse hydroxypropyl methylcellulose USP 2910 and polyethylene glycol 400 in a portion of hot purified water. 
     (2) Add the remainder of the purified water and cool the solution to room temperature. 
     B. Coating of Tablet Core 
     (1) Charge the requisite quantity of tablet cores to a suitable coating pan. 
     (2) Apply the sub-coating solution. 
     (3) Quantatively apply the active coating dispersion 
     (4) Apply the polishing coating solution 
     C Branding 
     (1) Brand the coated tablets with black imprinting ink. 
     The preferred composition of the tablet core and coating is given below 
     
         ______________________________________Tablet Core                 mg/core______________________________________Pseudoephedrine Sulfate USP 240Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2208 USP 100,000 cps                       320Ethylcellulose NF Type 7    80Dibasic Calcium Phosphate USP Dihydrate                       108Povidone USP                40Silicon Dioxide NF          8Magnesium Stearate NF       4Approximate Core Weight     800    mg______________________________________ 
    
     
         ______________________________________Tablet Coating            mg/tablet______________________________________Loratadine, Micronized    10Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 2910 USP 6 cps                     33Polyethylene Glycol 400 NF                     0.67Polyethylene Glycol 3350 NF                     6.75Color Dispersion (Solids) 6.25Imprinting Ink            --Approximate Coating Weight                     57      mgApproximate Tablet Weight 857     mg______________________________________ 
    
     The in vitro dissolution profile of the tablet of Example 1 was measured in a stirred 0.1N HCl solution at 37° C. The loratadine in the coating was dissolved within the first hour and the total dose of pseudoephedrine sulfate in the core was slowly released via erosion and dissolution mechanisms over a 12 to 16 hour period.