Apoorva Mahajan
The hydrochloride of Sertraline is a white crystalline powder; slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in ethanol [1]. It is a drug of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) that is chemically unrelated to other SSRIs, tricyclic, tetracyclic, or other available antidepressant drugs. Sertraline inhibit the inactivation of serotonin (5- hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) by blocking its absorption in the central nervous system [2]. SSRIs are used to treat depressions and effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric mood disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and bulimia. The films were prepared from polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, Carbopol 934P in different ratios by solvent casting method. Propylene glycol or PEG 400 as plasticizers and mannitol or sodium saccharin as sweeteners were also included. Satisfactory results were obtained when subjected to physico-chemical tests such as weight variation, thickness and folding endurance. Films were also subjected to in vitro drug release studies by using USP dissolution apparatus. In vitro release studies indicated 90-95% release within 1 hr.
