The mucoadhesion, swelling, and drug release behavior of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and carbopol (CP) matrices were studied using a water soluble model drug diltiazem hydrochloride. The mucoadhesive strength of the matrices increased with increase in polymer content. The results showed that PEO was more mucoadhesive than CP. Mucoadhesion of the tablets was dependent upon the swelling. Swelling was ascertained by measuring the axial and radial expansion of matrix tablets following exposure to media of physiological ionic strength. There was a marked increase in the swelling index of matrices containing high polymer content of PEO as compared to CP. Drug release kinetics were found to be closely related to dissolution and swelling properties of the matrices. The release was found to be non-Fickian with n (release exponent) values ranging from 0.45-0.58. At a constant polymer content (15.84% w/w), the main contributing factor for the mucoadhesion, swelling, and release was the amount of PEO.