Learning Objective

• Definition of tablets and their types

Definition

Tablets are unit SDF each containing a single dose of one or more active medicaments with or without excipients prepared by molding or compression method.

Advantages

1. Enhanced physical and chemical stability when compared to liquid dosage forms.
2. They provide an accurately measured dose and low content variability of the unit dose.
3. Low manufacturing cost.
4. Easy for packaging and shipping.
5. Easy to identify.
6. Manufacturing processes and techniques can provide tablets with special properties. Examples are enteric coating, sustained release and fast dissolving tablets.

Disadvantages

1. Poor bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs or poorly absorbable drugs.
2. Some drugs may cause local Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) irritation effect.
3. Difficulty for swallowing in some patients such as paediatrics and geriatrics.
4. Onset of action is slow in conventional tablets when compared to other dosage forms as it has to undergo disintegration and dissolution before the drug is being released. Exceptions are soluble tablets, dispersible tablets, melt tablets and effervescent tablets.