Co-crystallization in Antiepileptic Drugs: A Path Toward Better Therapeutic Outcomes

Pharmaceutical cocrystals are highly valued in drug development as they can enhance active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)' physicochemical characteristics without changing their chemical structure. This is especially important for biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class II and IV drugs, which have poor water solubility, resulting in low bioavailability. Co-crystallization is the process of forming a crystalline solid where the API and a co-former are combined in a specified stoichiometric proportion within a crystal lattice, mainly stabilized by non-covalent interactions. This method can enhance properties like stability, dissolution rate, solubility, compressibility, and powder flowability and pharmacokinetics, resulting in an improved drug delivery system and therapeutic effectiveness. Pharmaceutical antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the main focus of this review. Pharmaceutical characteristics, conventional and advanced cocrystal generation, and assessment techniques, as well as recent developments related to cocrystals, may suggest perception for cocrystal potential, design approaches, and regulatory aspects. The study's overall finding emphasizes the growth of co-crystallization as a significant technique to enhance the drug's performance and also demonstrates its potential as a significant technique in the AED category and its future application.