Domperidone Maleate

Medicated chewing gum (MCG) of Domperidone Maleate (DM) was developed by direct compression method with the goal to achieve quick onset of action and to improve patient compliance.

Formulation development of MCG of DM and optimization of the formulation by screening of different excipients.

MCG containing DM was prepared by screening different concentrations of sweeteners, flavouring agents, softening agents, lubricants and anti-adherents by changing one variable at a time. Performance evaluation was carried out by evaluating size, shape, thickness, taste, scanning electron microscopy, texture analysis, in vivo drug release study, ex vivo buccal permeation study and by studying statistical analysis for quality.

The statistical analysis showed significant improvement in organoleptic properties such as chewable mass, product taste, product consistency, product softness, total flavour lasting time and pharmaceutical properties like micromeritic properties after incorporation of appropriate excipients in an optimum amount in final optimized MCG formulation. In vivo drug release study showed 97% DM release whereas ex vivo buccal permeation study through goat buccal mucosa exhibited 11.27% DM permeation within 15 min indicating its potential for increasing bioavailability by decreasing time of onset. The optimized formulation showed good surface properties and the peak load required for drug release was found to be acceptable for crumbling action.

The developed formulation of medicated chewing gum can be a better alternative to mouth dissolving and conventional tablet formulation. It may be proved as a promising approach to improve the bioavailability as well as to improve patient compliance.

To investigate the influence of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics of domperidone given as free base and maleate salt.

An open, randomized, 2-period crossover study with a washout period of 7 d was conducted in 10 healthy Chinese, male patients. In each study period, the patients were administered a single oral dose of 10 mg domperidone as free base or maleate salt on d 1, 20 mg omeprazole twice daily on d 2 and 3, and once on d 4. A single dose of 10 mg domperidone as free base or maleate salt was taken at 4 h after administration of omeprazole on d 4. Plasma samples were collected on d 1 and 4 after the administration of domperidone, and the plasma concentrations of domperidone were determined by a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.

For free-base domperidone, pretreatment with omeprazole resulted in a 16% decrease in maximum concentration (C(max)), compared with administration alone (P<0.05). However, for maleate salt, with the exception of an increase in t(1/2), no pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly changed. When the free base and maleate salt were administered alone, no differences were found in any parameters between the 2 formulations. In contrast, when they were administered in the presence of omeprazole, the C(max) of domperidone given as free base was lower (25.9%) than that given as maleate salt (P<0.05).

Pretreatment of omeprazole does not affect the absorption of domperidone maleate, but leads to a moderately decreased rate of absorption of the free base.