Overview Of Pharmaceutical Vagina Tablet

Vagina tablet are designed for vaginal administration in treatment of local vaginal infections, for systemic absorption and absorption into vaginal tissue can be inserted with the aid of an applicator. In the treatment of localized vaginal infections.

These are uncoated bullet shaped or ovoid tablets. Designed to undergo slow dissolution and drug release in the vaginal cavity. Pleased in the upper region of the vaginal tract by plastic tube inserter. It may contain antibacterial, antiseptic, or astringent.

Vagina tablet

These tablets are designed to rapidly disintegrate in the vaginal cavity to release the active drug. The normal vaginal tablets contain similar components as the conventional oral tablets. Mucoadhesive polymers are sometimes used in vaginal tablet formulations to overcome the drawback of normal vaginal tablets.

Read Also: Types And Classification Of Pharmaceutical Tablet

Anatomy Of Vagina

Human vagina is often described as slightly S-shaped fibromuscular tubes between 6-10 cm long and 2 cm wide extending from the cervix of the uterus to the vestibule. The vaginal wall consists of three layers: the epithelial layer, the muscular coat and the tunica adventitia.

Normal pH of the vagina in premenopausal women ranges from 4 to 5, and rises to almost 7 in the post menopausal female. The vaginal secretion is a mixture of several components such as proteins/peptides, glycoproteins, lactic acid, acetic acid, glycerol, glycogen and ions such as Na++, Ca++ and Cl-.

Absorption Mechanism Of Vagina Tablet

Tablets administered via the vaginal route are absorbed transcellular via concentration dependent diffusion through the cells, paracellularly mediated by tight junctions, vesicular or receptor mediated transport.

Absorption of drugs from vaginal delivery systems occurs in two main steps:

1. drug dissolution in vaginal lumen

2. membrane penetration

Factors Affecting The Vaginal Absorption Of Drugs

1. Physiological Factors

A. Cyclic changes affect in thickness of vaginal epithelium fluid volume, viscosity and composition B. pH may change degree of ionization of drug and affect their the absorption

C. Sexual arousal

2. Physicochemical properties of drugs

A. Molecular weight

B. Lipophilicity

C. Ionization

D. Surface charge

E. Chemical nature

F. Vaginal enzymes

Note: low molecular weight lipophilic drugs are likely to be absorbed more than large molecular weight lipophilic or hydrophilic drugs. Proteases are likely to be the prominent barrier for the absorption of intact peptide and protein drugs into the systemic circulation. The human genital tract has lower enzymatic activity leading to less degradation of protein and peptide drugs in the vagina than the gastrointestinal tract sheep.

Read Also: Guide On How To Insert Suppository

Advantages Of Vaginal Tablet

1. Vaginal administration permits use of prolonged dosing, with continuous release of medicaments

2. Avoiding the fluctuations resulting from daily intake may also lower the incidence of side effects. 3. Alleviating the inconvenience caused by pain, tissue damage and probable infection, it serves as a better alternative to parenteral route

3. Vaginal route can be used for local as well as systemic effect

4. Avoidance of first pass effect

5. avoidance of enzymatic deactivation in GIT

6. Large permeation area, rich vascularization and relatively low enzymatic activity.

7. Non-invasive

8. Self-insertion and removal of the dosage form

Disadvantages Of Vaginal Tablet

1. Cultural sensitivity

2. Personal hygiene

3. Gender specificity 

4. Local irritation

5. Influence of sexual intercourse

6. Menstrual cycle-associated vaginal changes

 7. Sometimes leakage of drugs from vagina and wetting of under garments