Antihistamine and decongestant system

1. An oral pharmaceutical tablet consisting essentially of:

(a) a delayed release pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride tablet and

(b) an immediate release coating applied to said delayed release pseudoephedrine tablet that allows for the immediate release of a therapeutic amount of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride and a therapeutic amount of an antihistamine selected from the group consisting of loratadine and descarboethoxy loratadine;

wherein the delayed release pseudoephedrine tablet consists of:

(a) a compressed immediate release core consisting essentially of:

(i) 10-30% based upon the total weight of the compressed core of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 65-90% based upon the total weight of the compressed core of a filler;

(iii) 0.1-2% based upon the total weight of the compressed core of a glidant; and

(iv) 0.1-2% based upon the total weight of the compressed core of a lubricant; and

(b) a delayed release coating on said compressed immediate release core consisting essentially of:

(i) 15-60% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a combination of at least two pH dependent polymers selected from the group consisting of zein, methacrylic acid copolymers, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate, cellulose acetate trimellitate and polyvinyl acetate phthalate;

(ii) 3-15% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a plasticizer; and

(iii) 30-75% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of an anti-adherent wherein the delayed release coating delays the release of the pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride from the immediate release core until the delayed release tablet reaches an environment where the pH is higher than 6; and

wherein the immediate release coating comprises:

(a) a pseudoephedrine immediate release coating comprising:

(i) a therapeutic amount of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride; and

(ii) a water soluble or rapidly dispersible binder; and

(b) a separate antihistamine immediate release coating comprising:

(i) a therapeutic amount of loratadine or descarboethoxy loratadine,

(ii) a water soluble or rapidly dispersible binder, and

(iii) a surfactant.

2. The oral pharmaceutical tablet defined in claim 1 , further comprising a seal coat between the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating and the antihistamine immediate release coating.

3. The oral pharmaceutical tablet as defined in claim 2 wherein the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating consists essentially of:

(i) 20-70% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 10-50% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 1-15% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a plasticizer;

(iv) 10-40% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent; and

the antihistamine immediate release coating consists essentially of:

(i) 1-25% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of loratadine or descarboethoxy loratadine;

(ii) 30-70% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 10-40% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a surfactant;

(iv) 5-25% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent.

4. The oral pharmaceutical tablet as defined in claim 1 wherein:

(a) the compressed immediate release core consists essentially of:

(i) 15-25% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of the pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 75-85% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a filler;

(iii) 0.1-1% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a glidant;

(iv) 0.1-1% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a lubricant;

(b) the delayed release coating (a)(2) on said compressed immediate release core consists essentially of:

(i) 25-45% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a combination of at least two pH dependent polymers;

(ii) 3-10% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a plasticizer;

(iii) 40-65% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of an anti-adherent;

(c) the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating comprises:

(i) 35-60% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of the pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 20-35% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 1-10% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a plasticizer;

(iv) 10-30% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent;

(d) the antihistamine immediate release coating comprises:

(i) 5-15% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of loratadine or descarboethoxy loratadine;

(ii) 40-60% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 15-30% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a surfactant;

(iv) 5-15% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent.

5. The oral pharmaceutical tablet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pH dependent polymers are a combination of zein and methacrylic acid copolymer.

6. The oral pharmaceutical tablet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the oral pharmaceutical tablet exhibits a pseudoephedrine dissolution profile similar to the pseudoephedrine dissolution profile shown in FIG. 1 when the oral pharmaceutical tablet is tested in a USP type I apparatus at 100 rpms, in 0.1N HCl with 0.1% tween 80.

7. An oral pharmaceutical tablet consisting of:

(a) a delayed release pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride tablet and

(b) an immediate release coating applied to said delayed release tablet that allows for the immediate release of a therapeutic amount of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride and a therapeutic amount of an antihistamine selected from the group consisting of loratadine and descarboethoxy loratadine

wherein the delayed release pseudoephedrine tablet consists of:

(a) a compressed immediate release core consisting of:

(i) 10-30% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 65-90% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a filler;

(iii) 0.1-2% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a glidant; and

(iv) 0.1-2% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a lubricant;

(b) a delayed release coating on said compressed immediate release core consisting of:

(i) 15-60% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a combination of at least two pH dependent polymers selected from the group consisting of zein, methacrylic acid copolymers, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate, cellulose acetate trimellitate and polyvinyl acetate phthalate;

(ii) 3-15% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a plasticizer; and

(iii) 30-75% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of an anti-adherent wherein the delayed release coating delays the release of the pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride from the compressed immediate release core until the delayed release tablet reaches an environment where the pH is higher than 6; and

wherein the at least one immediate release coating consists of:

(a) a pseudoephedrine immediate release coating consisting of:

(i) 20-70% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 10-50% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 1-15% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a plasticizer;

(iv) 10-40% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent; and

(b) a separate antihistamine immediate release coating consisting of:

(i) 1-25% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of loratadine or descarboethoxy loratadine;

(ii) 30-70% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 10-40% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a surfactant;

(iv) 5-25% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent; and

(c) optionally a seal coat between the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating and the antihistamine immediate release coating.

8. The oral pharmaceutical tablet as defined in claim 7 wherein:

(a) the compressed immediate release core consists of:

(i) 15-25% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of the pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 75-85% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a filler;

(iii) 0.1-1% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a glidant;

(iv) 0.1-1% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a lubricant;

(b) the delayed release coating on said compressed immediate release core consists of:

(i) 25-45% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a combination of at least two pH dependent polymers;

(ii) 3-10% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a plasticizer;

(iii) 40-65% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of an anti-adherent;

(c) the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating consists of:

(i) 35-60% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of the pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 20-35% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 1-10% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a plasticizer;

(iv) 10-30% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent;

(d) the antihistamine immediate release coating consists of:

(i) 5-15% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of loratadine or descarboethoxy loratadine;

(ii) 40-60% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 15-30% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a surfactant;

(iv) 5-15% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent.

9. The oral pharmaceutical tablet as defined in claim 7 , wherein the pH dependent polymers are a combination of zein and methacrylic acid copolymer.

10. An oral pharmaceutical tablet consisting of:

(a) a delayed release tablet consisting of:

(i) a compressed immediate release core consisting of:

(A) 15-25% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(B) 75-85% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a filler;

(C) 0.1-1% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a glidant;

(D) 0.1-1% based upon the total weight of the compressed immediate release core of a lubricant;

(ii) a delayed release coating applied to the compressed immediate release core

(a)(1) consisting of:

(A) 25-45% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a combination of zein and methacrylic acid copolymer and wherein the zein consists of 10-40% of the total weight of the delayed release coating;

(B) 3-10% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of a plasticizer;

(C) 40-65% based upon the total weight of the delayed release coating of an anti-adherent;

wherein the delayed release coating delays the release of the pseudoephedrine from the compressed immediate release core until the delayed release tablet reaches an environment where the pH is higher than 6;

(b) a pseudoephedrine immediate release coating applied to the delayed release tablet consisting of:

(i) 35-60% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of pseudoephedrine sulfate or hydrochloride;

(ii) 20-35% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 1-10% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of a plasticizer;

(iv) 10-30% based upon the total weight of the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent;

(c) an antihistamine immediate release coating applied to the delayed release tablet consisting of:

(i) 5-15% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of loratadine or descarboethoxy loratadine;

(ii) 40-60% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a binder;

(iii) 15-30% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of a surfactant;

(iv) 5-15% based upon the total weight of the antihistamine immediate release coating of an anti-adherent; and

(d) optionally a seal coat between the pseudoephedrine immediate release coating and the antihistamine immediate release coating.