Learning Objective

• Definition of pastilles and its uses

Pastilles (also known as troche) are a type of candy or medicinal pill made of a thick liquid that has been solidified and is meant to be consumed by light chewing and allowing it to dissolve in the mouth. They are made by transferring a liquid, which is viscous into a mold with added sugar or wax and then the liquid is allowed to set and dry. The dried liquid substances when chewed slowly release the drugs and dissolve in the mouth. The released liquid is then absorbed by the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.

The base of pastilles is usually a mixture of gums such as starch and gum arabic. The gums emulsify the ingredients and fix them in a hydrocolloidal matrix. The presence of gums helps in reducing in the rate at which the pastilles dissolve and controls the concentration of active ingredient delivery at different time intervals. It also helps in making the pastilles physically stable especially during storage and transport.