Investigation of the effect of additives on the dissolution rates of aspirin and paracetamol using a factorial design

The effects of glycine, taurine and sorbitol on the intrinsic dissolution rate of paracetamol and aspirin were investigated using a 2ⁿ factorial design. It is shown that all three additives decreased the dissolution rates of the two analgesics. There was no evidence of interactions between the additives except between sorbitol and glycine at the low levels (5%) and between taurine and glycine at the high levels. The decrease in dissolution rates observed was ascribed to increase in the viscosity of the dissolution medium by the additives.