Improvement of Medication Adherence and Controlled Drug Release by Optimized Acetaminophen Formulation

Acetaminophen (paracetamol, APAP) is a major component of Tylenol, Penzal Q, and Panpyrin, and is the most commonly used antipyretic analgesic in children. The conventional oral drug delivery systems of APAP are pills and tablets. However alternative drug delivery methods are desirable in case of pediatric or geriatric patients, especially for drugs like APAP that must be taken in large doses at once. Another requirement for a good drug delivery system is the rapid dissolution to ensure a rapid therapeutic action as pain reliever. In this study Acetaminophen (paracetamol, APAP) was encapsulated in a water-soluble polymer. After the preparation of the solid dispersion by encapsulating acetaminophen in polyvinylpyrrolidone, the resultant granules were used in three formulations: tablets, chewable tablets, and oral dissolving films (ODF). Solid dispersions and prepared formulations were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and universal tensile machine (UTM), and the release behavior was compared. As a result, it was confirmed that the oral dissolving films can be taken easily because it has the advantages of both tablet and liquid dosage form accurate dosage, easy administration, easy swallowing, and fast bioavailability. Furthermore, the drug absorption rate can be effectively increased by changing the formulation.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]