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5PSQ-126 Comparative in vitro study of nasogastric tube administration methods on the dissolution of cilostazol sustained release pellets

ejhpharm · 2026-03-18 · canonical JSON source

6 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Background and Importance Cilostazol is highly effective for preventing recurrent non-cardioembolic ischaemic strokes, offering more therapeutic benefits and a lower risk of major bleeding compared to long-term aspirin use. The medication is formulated as a sustained-release (SR) capsule containing small pellets. For patients with swallowing difficulties, such as those requiring a nasogastric (NG) tube, administering these pellets directly is a potential alternative. However, there is limited data on whether removing the pellets from the capsule affects the drug’s dissolution profile, which could impact its overall efficacy and safety.Aim and Objectives This in vitro study aimed to compare the dissolution profile of cilostazol SR pellets administered via an NG tube against that of an intact capsule.Material and Methods The study simulated conditions of the stomach and intestines using four different buffer systems (0.1 N HCl pH 1.2, 1 M acetate buffer pH 4.5, 1 M phosphate buffer pH 6.8, 900 mL of 0.30% SLS in water). The amount of cilostazol in the dissolution medium from both the pellets alone and the whole capsule was measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 5-, 15-, 30-, 60-, 120-, and 240-minutes post-initiation.Results The results demonstrated that the release profiles were nearly identical, confirming their pharmaceutical equivalence. The similarity factor (f2) across all buffer systems was well within the acceptable range (99.89, 97.64, and 96.93). Furthermore, the pellets passed through the NG tube completely, confirming the feasibility of this administration method.Conclusion and Relevance Administering Cilostazol SR pellets through an NG tube does not alter the drug’s dissolution profile. This finding supports its use as a safe and effective alternative administration route for stroke patients who are unable to swallow capsules.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest