An-Najah Staff

The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of correlation between the weight and the content of spilt-halves of lorazepam 2.5 mg tablets. Weight variation and drug content of lorazepam half-tablets were evaluated according to the European Pharmacopoeia tests. Only one individual mass of the 30 half tablets was outside the limits of 85–115% of the average mass, but since it was within 75–125% of the average mass, the product passed the test. Each individual content was between 85% and 115% of the average content (99.8% expressed as a percent to label claim) and within the limits of 75–125%, so the product passed the uniformity of content test. The correlation coefficient (r) between the weight and the content of split halves was found to be 0.994. The weights of split tablet halves appear to be directly correlated with their drug content even for a medication with a low drug content, thus it is recommended that pharmacists who split tablets into two halves, assure the weight uniformity of the resultant halves. Manufacturers should develop formulation and manufacturing procedures that ensure high degree of correlation between weight and content not only among the whole tablet but also among the obtained tablet halves.

Tablet splitting is widely practiced worldwide. Several studies have considered weight variation of split tablets as a mean of estimating drug content uniformity but the analysis of their drug content and physical factors that may affect splitting are limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of manufacturing parameters and splitting on content and weight uniformity of atenolol tablets. Atenolol tablets (100 and 50 mg) were prepared under the same manufacturing conditions and using the same excipients. The obtained tablets were checked for hardness, weight, and disintegration. The weight and the content of the two strength atenolol tablets after splitting into two halves were evaluated. Atenolol tablets (100 mg) showed higher values of hardness, disintegration time and diameter than atenolol tablets (50 mg). Atenolol tablets (100 mg) passed both weight and content uniformity while atenolol tablets (50 mg) failed these tests. Half tablet weight appears to be directly correlated with its drug content. Manufacturers should investigate physical factors such as tablet hardness, diameter, and disintegration time that may play an important role in achieving both weight and content uniformity in the resultant tablet halves.