Here you are a summary of the key points you should know about tablets!
- Tablets of different types represent collectively the dominant type of dosage form
- Tablets are used for oral administration for both systemic and local drug treatment
- Several categories of tablets exist that are used in different ways, e g swallowed whole or retained in the mouth during the release of the drug
- Tablets are normally formed by powder compression, i e the forcing of particles into close proximity by the application of mechanical force
- Besides the active ingredient, tablets normally consist of a series of excipients that are included to control biopharmaceutical and other quality attributes, as well as to aid the manufacturing of the tablet
- The release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient is a key product attribute and can be controlled by the formulation to achieve immediate-release, delayed-release or prolonged- release of the drug
- In the manufacturing of tablets, a series of unit operations are normally used, including mixing and granulation of active ingredient(s) and excipients
- In the manufacturing of tablets, a number of technical problems can arise, such as high weight and dose variation, low mechanical strength, capping of the tablets, adhesion and high friction
- The success of a tableting operation is related to the properties of the powder intended to be formed into tablets and also to the design and conditions of the press and the tooling
- Important tests of quality attributes of tablets include tablet disintegration and dissolution, tablet friability and tablet fracture resistance
