Pharmaceutical companies increase research and development on fixed dose combination and regulatory agencies set strict demands in the content of requirements for obtaining the Marketing Authorization for fixed dose combinations, using several tools to prove quality, safety and efficacy. The aim of the present study is to compare hydrochlorothiazide as a model drug and study the influence of pH environment on the behavior of hydrochlorothiazide. For this purposes six different systems were introduced: (i) two conventional tablets (HCTZ and pH modifying placebo), (ii) bi-layer round tablets (HCTZ, pH modifying placebo), (iii) bi-layer oval tablets (HCTZ, pH modifying placebo), (iv) comprimates (mixture of HCTZ and pH modifying placebo), (v) three-layer tablets (HCTZ, barrier and pH modifying placebo) and (vi) tree-layer tablets (HCTZ, barrier with addition of super desintigrator and pH modifying placebo). Results of desintegartion showed the differences in bi-layer and three-layer tablets in comparison to two conventional tablets. The difference between dissolution profiles of conventional two tablets system (HCTZ tablet and pH modifying tablet) and the decrease in the dissolution rate of bi-layer and three-layer tablets is signifficant. Typical degradation product of HCTZ is formed, impurity B, which implies the formation of formaldehyde as hydrolytic impurity that is not reported in the Ph. Eur.. Impurities are raised by bi-layered tablet with alkaline and neutral placebo layers. It is presumed that HCTZ dissolution rate was decreased due to formation of non-soluble substances because of HCTZ degradation in the presence of alkaline layer. Stability of HCTZ was improved in the case of three-layer tablet, where the intermediate separation layer of glycerol monostearate was present, but still exhibit certain degree of degradation which might happened due to incompatibility of hydrochlorothiazide and manitol. Millard reaction is noticed in all bi-layered tablets where alkaline pH modifiers is added. Millard reaction is reduced in the three-layer tablets, but not completely suspended. It can be concluded, that development of multi-layer tablets demand systematic research and development work and it is specific for each combination of active substances, excipients and used technology.
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