Formulation of ketotifen child-friendly chewing gums for pediatric administration Asmaa M Rashid1, Rafid M Hashim2,

Purpose: To formulate ketotifen fumarate (KTF) in the form of an oral chewing gum to enhance patient compliance, particularly among children. Methods: Six KTF gums were prepared using gelatin alone or in combination with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) at 68 ºC and at 75 ºC. The six batches prepared were code-labeled, F1 to F6. The prepared KTF gums were characterized with respect to appearance, thickness, weight variation, moisture loss, and in vitro drug release. Results: Temperature did not significantly affect the properties of the formulated gums (p > 0.05). However, the addition of a second polymer affected the properties of the gums. Two KTF gums (F2 and F4), which had NaCMC as a second polymer, showed maximum release in 2 h (100 % and 87.25 %, respectively). The moisture content for F2 was 15.20 %, suggesting better mechanical properties. Conclusion: Ketotifen fumarate may be formulated into a chewing gum as an alternative method for pediatric administration, aiming to improve compliance.