Pediatric-Oriented Formulation Strategies for Sodium Valproate: Advances in Water-Dispersible Tablet Design, Evaluation, and Clinical Relevance

The present investigation was aimed at the formulation and evaluation of sodium valproate water-dispersible tablets intended for pediatric patients, with the objective of improving patient compliance and achieving rapid drug dispersion in an aqueous medium. Preformulation studies were carried out to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and ensure proper drug identification and suitability for formulation development. The calibration curve of sodium valproate was constructed using methanol as a solvent, which exhibited a maximum absorbance (λmax) at 214 nm and demonstrated excellent linearity over the selected concentration range.Drug–excipient compatibility studies were performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which confirmed the absence of any significant chemical interactions between sodium valproate and the selected excipients. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis further supported the thermal stability of the drug within the formulation. The prepared powder blends of all formulations (F1–F8) showed satisfactory flow properties, as evidenced by acceptable values of angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s index, and Hausner’s ratio.Post-compression evaluation of the formulated tablets included assessment of weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration time, dispersion time, wetting time, water absorption ratio, and drug content uniformity. Among the various formulations, formulation F8 exhibited superior performance, characterized by rapid dispersion, adequate mechanical strength, and uniform drug content. Therefore, the developed sodium valproate water-dispersible tablet formulation demonstrates stability, effectiveness, and patient-friendly characteristics, making it a suitable dosage form for pediatric therapy.