The purpose of this study was to develop taste-masked mouth dissolving tablets using β-cyclodextrin by making solid dispersions and to know the effects of various natural and artificial superdisintegrants. Venlafaxine Hydrochloride, antidepressant agent having extensively bitter taste was selected as a model drug. Solid dispersions were prepared using different polymers PEG, HPMC, β-CD and combination of these polymers and evaluated for taste. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method using taste masked solid dispersion and comparison between these artificial superdisintegrants (croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate) and natural superdisintegrant (locust bean gum) was done by taking different ratios. Prepared tablets were subjected to different evaluation parameters such as hardness (4-5 kg/cm2), friability less than 1%, weight variation (250-251.90 mg), drug content uniformity (96.24-100.17%), in vitro disintegration time (32-42 sec), wetting time (22-38 sec), in vitro dissolution studies and stability studies were carried out of the best selected formulation. From all the formulations prepared and tested, F2 was found to be the best formulation. The results from this study suggests that the appropriate combination of β-CD solid dispersion could be used in mouth dissolving tablet to mask the bitter taste of the drug and to achieve the fast onset of action.
