Tablets
Tablets are solid preparations each containing a single dose of one or more active ingredients and obtained by compressing uniform volumes of particles. They are intended for oral administration.
Some are swallowed whole, some after being chewed, some are dissolved or dispersed in water before being administered and some are retained in the mouth where the active ingredient is liberated.
The particles consist of one or more active ingredients with or without excipients such as diluents, binders, disintegrating agents, glidants, lubricants, substances capable of modifying the behavior of the preparations in the digestive tract, colouring matter authorised by the competent authority and flavouring substances.
Tablets are solid preparations each containing a single dose of one or more active ingredients and obtained by compressing uniform volumes of particles. They are intended for oral administration. Some are swallowed whole, some after being chewed, some are dissolved or dispersed in water before being administered and some are retained in the mouth where the active ingredient is liberated.The particles consist of one or more active ingredients with or without excipients such as diluents, binders, disintegrating agents, glidants, lubricants, substances capable of modifying the behavior of the preparations in the digestive tract, colouring matter authorised by the competent authority and flavoring substances.Tablets are usually circular solid cylinders, the end surfaces of which are flat or convex and the edges of which may be bevelled. They may have lines or break-marks and may bear a symbol or other markings. Tablets may be coated.
Several categories of tablets for oral use may be distinguished:
PRODUCTION
Tablets are prepared by compressing uniform volumes of particles or particle aggregates produced by granulation methods. A Friability test for hardness of uncoated tablets is conducted.
Uncoated tablets include single-layer tablets resulting from a single compression of particles and multi-layer tablets consisting of concentric or parallel layers obtained by successive compression of particles of different composition.
Uncoated tablets conform to the general definition of tablets. A broken section, when examined under a lens, shows either a relatively uniform texture (single-layer tablets) or a stratified texture (multi-layer tablets) but no signs of coating.
Coated Tablets
Coated tablets are tablets covered with one or more layers of mixtures of various substances such as natural or synthetic resins, gums, gelatin, inactive and insoluble fillers, sugars, plasticisers, polyols, waxes, colouring matter authorised by the competent authority and sometimes flavouring substances and active ingredients.
When the coating is a very thin polymeric coating, the tablets are known as film-coated tablets.
Effervescent Tablets
Effervescent tablets are uncoated tablets generally containing acid substances and carbonates or hydrogen carbonates which react rapidly in the presence of water to release carbon dioxide. They are intended to be dissolved or dispersed in water before administration.Effervescent tablets are dissolved into a liquid before administration. These tablets contain special ingredients that release the active chemical ingredient by bubbling and fizzing once placed in the liquid. Effervescent tablets have the advantage of being completely dissolved in the liquid before the patient takes the medication. This allows for quicker absorption in the body than a solid tablet.
Soluble Tablets
Soluble tablets are uncoated or film-coated tablets. They are intended to be dissolved in water before administration. The solution produced may be slightly opalescent due to the added substances used in the manufacture of the tablets.
Dispersible Tablets
Dispersible tablets are uncoated or film-coated tablets intended to be dispersed in water before administration giving a homogeneous dispersion.
Gastro-Resistant Tablets
Gastro-resistant tablets are modified release tablets that are intended to resist the gastric fluid and to release their active ingredient(s) in the intestinal fluid.
They are prepared by covering tablets with a gastro-resistant coating (enteric-coated tablets) or from granules or particles already covered with a gastro-resistant coating. Tablets covered with a gastro-resistant coating conform to the definition of coated tablets.
Modified-Release Tablets
Modified-release tablets are coated or uncoated tablets containing special excipients or prepared by special procedures which, separately or together, are designed to modify the rate or the place at which the active ingredient(s) are released.
Tablets for Use in the Mouth
Tablets for use in the mouth are usually uncoated tablets. They are formulated to affect a slow release and local action of the active ingredient(s) or the release and absorption of the active ingredient or ingredients at a defined part of the mouth.
Chewable tablets
Chewable tablets are tablets that can be chewed instead of swallowed. Chewable tablets should be chewed, and not swallowed, in order to achieve the desired results. Chewable tablets are most common in paediatric medications, since small children have a difficult time swallowing tablets. Chewable tablets are also known to have sweeteners and flavourings to mask the bad taste and make the medication easier to take. Some adult medications are also chewable, such as antacids and aspirin.
Tablets are solid preparations each containing a single dose of one or more active ingredients and obtained by compressing uniform volumes of particles. They are intended for oral administration.
Some are swallowed whole, some after being chewed, some are dissolved or dispersed in water before being administered and some are retained in the mouth where the active ingredient is liberated.
The particles consist of one or more active ingredients with or without excipients such as diluents, binders, disintegrating agents, glidants, lubricants, substances capable of modifying the behavior of the preparations in the digestive tract, colouring matter authorised by the competent authority and flavouring substances.
Tablets are solid preparations each containing a single dose of one or more active ingredients and obtained by compressing uniform volumes of particles. They are intended for oral administration. Some are swallowed whole, some after being chewed, some are dissolved or dispersed in water before being administered and some are retained in the mouth where the active ingredient is liberated.The particles consist of one or more active ingredients with or without excipients such as diluents, binders, disintegrating agents, glidants, lubricants, substances capable of modifying the behavior of the preparations in the digestive tract, colouring matter authorised by the competent authority and flavoring substances.Tablets are usually circular solid cylinders, the end surfaces of which are flat or convex and the edges of which may be bevelled. They may have lines or break-marks and may bear a symbol or other markings. Tablets may be coated.
Several categories of tablets for oral use may be distinguished:
- uncoated tablets
- coated tablets
- effervescent tablets
- soluble tablets
- dispersive tablets
- gastro-resistant tablets,
- modified-release tablets,
- tablets for use in the mouth.
PRODUCTION
Tablets are prepared by compressing uniform volumes of particles or particle aggregates produced by granulation methods. A Friability test for hardness of uncoated tablets is conducted.
Uncoated tablets include single-layer tablets resulting from a single compression of particles and multi-layer tablets consisting of concentric or parallel layers obtained by successive compression of particles of different composition.
Uncoated tablets conform to the general definition of tablets. A broken section, when examined under a lens, shows either a relatively uniform texture (single-layer tablets) or a stratified texture (multi-layer tablets) but no signs of coating.
Coated Tablets
Coated tablets are tablets covered with one or more layers of mixtures of various substances such as natural or synthetic resins, gums, gelatin, inactive and insoluble fillers, sugars, plasticisers, polyols, waxes, colouring matter authorised by the competent authority and sometimes flavouring substances and active ingredients.
When the coating is a very thin polymeric coating, the tablets are known as film-coated tablets.
Effervescent Tablets
Effervescent tablets are uncoated tablets generally containing acid substances and carbonates or hydrogen carbonates which react rapidly in the presence of water to release carbon dioxide. They are intended to be dissolved or dispersed in water before administration.Effervescent tablets are dissolved into a liquid before administration. These tablets contain special ingredients that release the active chemical ingredient by bubbling and fizzing once placed in the liquid. Effervescent tablets have the advantage of being completely dissolved in the liquid before the patient takes the medication. This allows for quicker absorption in the body than a solid tablet.
Soluble Tablets
Soluble tablets are uncoated or film-coated tablets. They are intended to be dissolved in water before administration. The solution produced may be slightly opalescent due to the added substances used in the manufacture of the tablets.
Dispersible Tablets
Dispersible tablets are uncoated or film-coated tablets intended to be dispersed in water before administration giving a homogeneous dispersion.
Gastro-Resistant Tablets
Gastro-resistant tablets are modified release tablets that are intended to resist the gastric fluid and to release their active ingredient(s) in the intestinal fluid.
They are prepared by covering tablets with a gastro-resistant coating (enteric-coated tablets) or from granules or particles already covered with a gastro-resistant coating. Tablets covered with a gastro-resistant coating conform to the definition of coated tablets.
Modified-Release Tablets
Modified-release tablets are coated or uncoated tablets containing special excipients or prepared by special procedures which, separately or together, are designed to modify the rate or the place at which the active ingredient(s) are released.
Tablets for Use in the Mouth
Tablets for use in the mouth are usually uncoated tablets. They are formulated to affect a slow release and local action of the active ingredient(s) or the release and absorption of the active ingredient or ingredients at a defined part of the mouth.
Chewable tablets
Chewable tablets are tablets that can be chewed instead of swallowed. Chewable tablets should be chewed, and not swallowed, in order to achieve the desired results. Chewable tablets are most common in paediatric medications, since small children have a difficult time swallowing tablets. Chewable tablets are also known to have sweeteners and flavourings to mask the bad taste and make the medication easier to take. Some adult medications are also chewable, such as antacids and aspirin.