The major ingredient used in sugar coating is sugar, which may be substituted by other materials like sorbitol.

Other additives used are as follows:

1. Fillers—calcium carbonate, talc and titanium dioxide.
2. Coloring agents—FD&C approved dyes and lakes.
3. Film formers—acacia, gelatin and cellulose derivatives.
4. Anti-adherents—talc and surfactants.
5. Flavouring agents—fruit and chocolate flavors.

Different stages of sugar coating

1. Seal coating: This process is carried out to encapsulate the core tablet with a layer of water resistant polymer, which would prevent the penetration of aqueous solvent into the core tablet during main coating procedure. The core tablets are introduced into the coating pan and subjected for dedusting followed by spraying of cellulose acetate phthalate solution and finally dried. The seal-coated tablets are treated with asbestos free talc and rotated for 3 to 5 minutes. The equipment is stopped and the tablets are dried for 1 hour with the exhaust “ON” and with the supply of cold air.Ingredients: Cellulose acetate phthalate, shellac, acetone and ethanol.
2. Sub-coating: This process is done to improve the bond between seal coat and the sugar coat by using water soluble polymer. The tablets are rotated and the solution of acacia is sprayed over the tablets after which the tablets are rotated for 15 minutes with purified talc if necessary.Ingredients: Acacia, gelatin, sugar cane powder and purified water.
3. Syruping: This is divided into the following three steps:
   1. Grossing: The tablets are introduced with the exhaust “ON.” Warm air is passed with a temperature of about 120 °F. The solution is sprayed containing sub-coating agents. After the coating, the tablets are rolled for 15 to 30 minutes.Ingredients: Sub-coating agent, coloring agent, sugarcane powder and purified water.
   2. Heavy syrup: The maximum weight of the tablet is gained in this step. Syrup containing coloring agent and sugar cane powder are sprayed slowly and uniformly onto the tablets at fixed temperature and relative humidity. The tablets are completely dried to ensure tackiness.Ingredients: Sugarcane powder, coloring agent and syrup.
   3. Regular syrup: In this stage, the sugar cane powder and the coloring agent are dissolved in distilled water and sprayed onto the tablet at predetermined temperature. Then the entire batch is left overnight with the lid of the pan closed tightly.Ingredients: Sugarcane powder, coloring agent and purified water.
4. Polishing: The coated tablets are rotated and the solution of bees wax are sprinkled slowly and uniformly, and after the process the tablets are rotated for a period of 30 minutes by passing cold air.Ingredients: White beeswax, carnauba wax, ethanol and acetone.

Advantages

1. Sugar-coated tablets are widely accepted by the patients.
2. The raw materials used are inexpensive and easily available.

Disadvantages

1. The increase in weight and size of the finished product results (up to 40% of its core tablet weight) in increase packaging and transportation cost.
2. It is highly time consuming and laborious process.
3. Monograming and engraving of the tablet is not possible.
4. It requires services of highly skilled coating operator.