As Itopride hydrochloride is gastroprokinetic drug, the site of action is stomach; and as the drug pH ranges from 3.5 to 5.5, the present work was aimed to formulate floating tablets of Itopride hydrochloride using an effervescent approach for gastroretentive drug delivery system. In recent years scientific and technological advancements have been made in the research and development of controlled release oral drug delivery systems by overcoming physiological adversities like short gastric residence times and unpredictable gastric emptying times. The present investigation concerns the development of floating tablets of Itopride hydrochloride, a novel prokinetic drug, which after oral administration are designed to prolong the gastric residence time and thereby increase drug bioavailability, and drug release rate. This would help in promoting gastrointestinal transit and speed up gastric motility, and thereby it will relieve the symptoms associated with it. Floating tablets were fabricated; using direct compression method; containing Itopride hydrochloride, polymers HPMC K100M, HPMC K15M and Carbopol 934 P, along with gas generating agent sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. The addition of Carbopol aided in the reduction of the drug dissolution due to their hydrophobic nature. The concentration of these agents was also optimized to get desired controlled release of drug. The floating tablet formulations were evaluated for physical characterization, assay, swelling index, in-vitro drug release, hardness, friability and weight variation.The results indicated that gas powered floating tablets of Itopride hydrochloride containing 125 mg HPMC K100M, 40 mg HPMC K15M, and 40 mg Carbopol provides a better option for 24 hours release action and improved bioavailability. The drug release pattern of this optimized formulation was found to be non-fickian diffusion mechanism. The accelerated stability studies, at 40°C / 75% RH, of the optimized formulation was carried out for one month and no significant change was observed. © 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.