An Evaluation of Smecta as a Tablet Disintegrant and Dissolution Aid

Abstract

Smecta is a nonfibrous Attapulgite (NFA), mostly composed of smectite. It was evaluated as a disintegrant in tablets made by direct compression as well as by wet granulation and using lactose and dicalcium phosphate as water soluble and water insoluble fillers, respectively. An inorganic clay, magnesium aluminum silicate (Veegum), a modified starch (Starch 1500), a cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose (Ac-Di-Sol), and a cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (Polyplasdone XL) were used for comparative evaluation. Smecta performed well as a disintegrant in tablets made by either method. It was superior to Veegum and Starch 1500, but inferior to Ac-Di-Sol and Polyplasdone XL. In tablets with Smecta, dissolution of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) was superior to those with Ac-Di-Sol.