How do the different types of tablets influence the choice and execution of quality control tests in the manufacturing of solid dosage forms?”
Solid Dosage Forms: Tablets
Introduction: –
Definition: Solid dosage form containing medicinal substances with or without suitable diluents. Common and widely used oral dosage form.
Advantages:
- Convenient and portable
- Accurate dosage
- Cost-effective
- Good stability
Disadvantages:
– Difficult to swallow for some patients (e.g., elderly, pediatric)
– Not suitable for drugs with poor compressibility or solubility
Types of Tablets
Based on Route of Administration: –
- Oral Tablets
– Uncoated Tablets
– Sugar-coated Tablets
– Film-coated Tablets
– Enteric-coated Tablets
– Chewable Tablets
– Effervescent Tablets
– Buccal Tablets
– Sublingual Tablets
– Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs)
- Implantable Tablets
– Placed under the skin for sustained release
- Vaginal Tablets
– Used for local action inside the vagina
| Type | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Tablets | Simple, uncoated | Standard release |
| Enteric-Coated Tablets | Coating resists stomach acid | Dissolves in intestine |
| Film-Coated Tablets | Thin polymer coating | Protects drug, masks taste |
| Effervescent Tablets | Release gas when in water | Fast action, dissolved before use |
| Chewable Tablets | Chewed before swallowing | Easier intake for children/elderly |
| Sublingual Tablets | Placed under the tongue | Rapid absorption into bloodstream |
| Buccal Tablets | Placed between cheek and gum | Bypasses GI tract |
| Dispersible Tablets | Disperse in water | For those who can’t swallow |
| Controlled/Extended Release | Releases drug over time | Prolonged effect |
| Delayed-Release Tablets | Releases drug after a delay | Targeted delivery |
Based on Manufacturing Method :-
- Compressed Tablets
– Most common type, made by compression of powder or granules
- Moulded Tablets
– Softer, prepared by moulding a moist mixture
- Lyophilized Tablets
– Freeze-dried for rapid disintegration in the mouth
Quality Control Tests for Tablets: –
Official Tests (Pharmacopoeia Standards)
- Appearance
– Uniform colour, shape, and size
- Weight Variation Test
– Ensures uniformity of dosage
- Hardness (Crushing Strength)
– Measures mechanical strength
- Friability Test
– Determines ability to resist abrasion
- Disintegration Test
– Measures time to break down into smaller particles
- Dissolution Test
– Measures rate and extent of drug release
- Content Uniformity
– Ensures uniform distribution of active ingredient
- Thickness and Diameter
– Physical dimensions check using calipers.
- Moisture Content
- Affects stability and shelf-life
- Additional Tests
- Stability Testing
- Microbial Limit Testing
- Assay of Active Ingredient
- Identification Tests (IR/UV/Chromatographic)
Conclusion: –
- Tablets remain the most preferred dosage form due to ease of administration, stability, and mass production.
- Proper quality control ensures efficacy, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards.
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