PREPARATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF DISULFIRAM LOZENGES

Disulfiram, an alcohol deterrent agent, has been reformulated as a medicated lozenge to enhance patient compliance and enable sustained drug delivery through the oral mucosa. This research focuses on the evaluation and preparation of disulfiram lozenges using the heat and congealing method, incorporating natural polymers such as microcrystalline cellulose and acacia in varying concentrations across five formulations (F1–F5). The aim was to identify a formulation that offers optimal hardness, friability, weight uniformity, and sustained drug release. Organoleptic, physicochemical, and dissolution profile assessments were conducted, and drug release kinetics were analyzed using multiple models. Among the formulations, F3, containing 50 mg of acacia, demonstrated superior performance with 98.75% drug release at 40 minutes and obey constant-rate model and Higuchi release kinetics, showing a diffusion- and erosion-based release mechanism. The study highlights F3 as a promising candidate for the effective, sustained oral delivery of disulfiram, offering a convenient, water-free alternative that bypasses first-pass metabolism and enhances bioavailability for the management of alcohol dependence. Key Words: Lozenges, Disulfuram, Alcohol