Tablets - Key points

Here you are a summary of the key points you should know about tablets!

1. Tablets of different types represent collectively the dominant type of dosage form
2. Tablets are used for oral administration for both systemic and local drug treatment
3. 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
4. Tablets are normally formed by powder  compression, i e the forcing of particles into close proximity by the application of mechanical force
5. 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
6. 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
7. In the manufacturing of tablets, a series of unit operations are normally used, including mixing  and granulation of active ingredient(s) and excipients
8. 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
9. 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
10. Important tests of quality attributes of tablets include tablet disintegration and dissolution, tablet friability and tablet fracture resistance