National Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2022; 2(2): 115-121

E-ISSN: 2788-9270
P-ISSN: 2788-9262
www.pharmajournal.net The most popular pharmaceutical dosage form:
NJPS 2022; 2(2): 115-121
Received: 06-05-2022
Tablet
Accepted: 12-07-2022

Sweta Dogra Sweta Dogra, Isha Shah and Dr. Umesh Upadhyay
Student, Sigma Institute of
Pharmacy, Ajwa-Nimeta
Road, Bakrol, Vadodara, Abstract
Gujarat, India The study of medicine is a science and an art. There are no compounding pills in it and dressings; it
describes life's fundamental concepts, which must be understood before they may be guided. For
Isha Shah several decades, pharmaceutical oral solid dosing forms have been used mainly since they are easy to
Assistant Professor, Sigma administer and suitable for delivery for drugs delivery for systemic effects. The tablets may be made
Institute of Pharmacy, Ajwa- via using powders directly or by using pellets, granules, or multiple units of film coating. Now, tablets
Nimeta Road, Bakrol, are the most popularly employed dosage forms.70% of all produced ethical pharmaceutical
Vadodara, Gujarat, India preparations are in this form. Tablets are solid pharmaceutical dosage forms which can be moulded or
compressed and contain drug substances with or without suitable diluents. Hence, compressed tablets
Dr. Umesh Upadhyay and moulded tablets are the two broad categories of tablets. There are three different types of
Principal, Sigma Institute of compressed tablets: chewable tablets, directly compressible tablets, and tablet triturates.
Pharmacy, Ajwa-Nimeta
Road, Bakrol, Vadodara, Keywords: Compression, granulation, coated tablets, binders and ingredients
Gujarat, India
Introduction
Solid medications can be administered orally as tablets, powders, capsules, cachets, or
capsules. Even in the case of sustained action preparations, which technically contain the
equivalent of several normal doses of drug, these dosage forms are known collectively as
solid unit dosage forms since they contain an amount of drugs which is given as a single
unit.
The prescribing of powders and tablets had declined steadily because of the strict
formulation requirements of modern medications, the various advantages of tablet and
capsule medication, the growth of health services, and the commitment needed for large-
scale economic manufacture. On the other hand, tablets and capsules currently help
compensate well over two-third of the total number and cost of medicines produced
worldwide. Tablets are a conventional solid dosage form which have many advantages over
other dosage forms.
The most popular dosage form is tablets, which account for almost 70% of all medicines.
Depending on the therapeutic ingredients and the intended mode of administration, tablets
comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and weights. This paper reviews and briefly
describes some of the advantages and disadvantages of tablets, as well as some of the
common ingredients, methods of preparation, and various kinds of tablets.

Definition
According to the Indian Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical tablets are solid, flat or biconvex
dishes which are prepared by compressing drug or drug mixture, with or without diluents,

Corresponding Author:
Sweta Dogra
Student, Sigma Institute of Fig 1: Tablets
Pharmacy, Ajwa-Nimeta
Road, Bakrol, Vadodara,
Gujarat, India, Karnataka, A compressed solid dosage form called a tablet that contains medicaments with or without
India excipients is referred to as this. Depending on the amount of medicinal substances and the
intended mode of administration, they differ greatly in size, weight, and shape [1, 2].

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Properties Standard compressed tablets

1. A product should be delicate, distinctive, and free of These are standard uncoated tablets made by compression
defects like chips, cracks, discoloration, and using wet granulation, double compression and direct
contamination. compression. It provides rapid disintegration and drug
2. It must be strong enough to handle the strain and shocks release. The main objective in GIT is to influence local
that it’ll undergo while production, packaging, action. It usually combines water-insoluble drugs like
shipping, and dispensing. antacids and adsorbents [4].
3. It must be highly stable enough to keep onto the
physical properties over time. Multiple compressed tablets
Multiple compressed tablets are prepared by more than one
4. Must be able to continuously and accurately transfer the compression cycle. This process is useful when two or more
therapeutic agent (s) into body.
active ingredients need to be separate for stability reasons or
5. The chemical stability over time should be adequate to when the mixing process cannot ensure an even distribution
sought protection to the pharmaceutical ingredient [3]. of the ingredients. This class encompasses the three
subcategories of compression coated tablets, layered tablets,
Types of tablets and inlay tablets [5, 6].
Oral tablets for ingestion
a) Standard Compressed Tablets Compression coated tablets
b) Multiple Compressed Tablets
c) Compression Coated Tablets
 Sugar coated tablets
 Film coated tablets
 Gelatine coated tablets
 Enteric coated tablets
 Layered tablet
 Inlay tablet
d) Targeted Tablets
Fig 2: compression coated tablets
 Floating Tablet
 Colon Targeting Tablet
This tablet is most conducive to repetition. The outer layer
e) Chewable tablets
provides the initial dose, and the inner core later releases the
f) Dispersible tablets
medicine. In view of this, it is helpful for the releases of two
active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), one of which is an
Tablets used in the oral cavity
immediate release formulation which is entrapped in the
a) Lozenges and troches
coat and the other of which is a sustained release
b) Sublingual tables
formulation that is entrapped in the core [7].
c) Buccal tablets
d) Dental cones
e) Mouth dissolved / rapidly dissolving tablets Sugar coated tablets

Tablets administered by other routes

a) Vaginal tablet
b) Rectal tablet
c) Implants

Tablets used to prepare solution

a) Effervescent tablets
b) Moulded tablets Fig 3: sugar coated tablets
 Hypodermic tablet
 Dispensing / soluble tablet The sugar coat protects the drug inside from the outside
c) Tablet Triturate environment and provides as a barrier to objectionable tastes or
odour. It also provides an elegant, glossy appearance.
The sweet taste of the tablets leads to the increase in patient
Structure wise
compliance. Widely used in preparation of multivitamin mineral
a) Divisible Tablets combination.
b) Aperture Tablet
c) Concave Convex Tablets Film Coated Tablets
d) Core Tablet

Action Wise
a) Modified Release Tablet

Oral tablet for ingestion

Over 90% of manufactured tablets are ingested orally. With
the exception of chewable tablets, these are designed to be
swallowed completely.
Fig 4: Film coated tablets

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These coated tablets don't need to have the medicine coated. Film According to the European Pharmacopoeia, dispersible tablets are
coating is used as an alternative to sugar coating when the tablet uncoated or film-coated tablets intended to be dispersed in water
needs to be stronger. For this technique, polymers like Ethyl before administration to form a homogeneous dispersion.
cellulose, HPC (Hydroxypropyl cellulose), and HPMC A dispersible tablet is typically dispersed in 5 to 15 ml of water
(Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose) are used. (for eg, in a tablespoon or a glass of water), and the patient is given
In contrast to the sugar coating technique, it is also a faster process. the resulting dispersion. Dispersible tablets should disintegrate in 3
Although it has many advantages over sugar coating in in terms of minutes in water with a pH of 15 to 25. A sieve screen with a
durability, bulk, and application rates, it loses sugarcoating’s nominal mesh aperture of 710µ must be used to filter the
physical elegance and attractiveness. In the desired location in the dispersion produced by a dispersible tablet [10].
gastrointestinal tract, the coating is designed to break and expose
the core tablet. Sublingual Tablets
By enabling the drug to be absorbed directly through the mucosal
Enteric Coated Tablets lining of the mouth beneath the tongue, they are to be placed under
the tongue and produce an immediate systemic effect. The tablets
are usually small and flat and lightly compressed to keep their
softness [11].

Buccal Tablets
These drugs are intended to dissolve in a buccal pouch. Tablets are
not designed to break down. It is placed closer to the parotid duct
Fig 5: Enteric coated tablets opening to provide the medium required to dissolve the tablet. The
most common method of therapy for replacement hormonal
The enteric coated tablets’ coating is resistant to the acidic therapy is buccal tablets [12].
conditions in the stomach, hence the drug cannot be released there.
Even though, it easily releases the drug in the alkaline media of the
intestine. Drugs therefore must pass through the stomach,
prolonging the duration of their release, rise to the term “delayed
action table” [8].

Chewable tablets

Fig 8: sublingual and buccal tablets

Effervescent Tablets

Fig 6: Chewable tablets

Tablets which can be chewed between the teeth must be broken

before consumption. These tablets are given to adults who detest
swallowing and to youngsters who have trouble swallowing. These
tablets are intended to disintegrate smoothly and gently in the
mouth, eitherwith or without chewing.
When an active ingredient is intended to act locally rather than
systemically, chewable tablets are commonly used. They are
composed of a gum core which may or may not be coated.
Insoluble gum base, fillers, waxes, antioxidants, sweeteners, and
Fig 9: Effervescent tablets
flavours are the core ingredients. Gum base concentration ranges
from 30% to 60% [9].
Effervescent are designed to dissolve when they come into
Dispersible Tablets contact with liquid, likely water or juice. This results in the
tablet dissolving into a solution, which is beneficial because
the tablets dissolve evenly and completely. Indicating that
there cannot be localised concentrations of the ingredients
This not only leads to better taste but also to a lesser risk of
irritation and a more efficient means to ingest the
ingredients [13, 14, 15].

Moulded Tablets
Hypodermic tablets
One kind of sterile preparations are hypodermic tablets.
Before the actual injection in the hypodermic cavity, tablets
are dissolved in WFI or sterile water to inject. They are
intended to be combined with sterile water to form a clear
solution which will be injected intravenously [16].
Fig 7: Dispersible tablets

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Dispensing or soluble tablets After taking a single tablet, the medicine is released slowly
These should be mixed with water or other solvents to for a long period of time. Used to target releases which are
create a solution with a specific amount of API in it. No site-specific. Any adjuvant that can alter the rate at which
soluble substances (such as glidants, binders, etc.) should be water is absorbed, how fast things swell and gel, or how
present because they will be converted to a clear solution quickly things gel can change the release rate of API. By
[17]
. providing a healthy micro environment pH in the tablet, the
Tablet Triturates drug release can be modified. The release of acidic drugs is
Tablet triturates are compressed or moulded small tablets improved by the use of alkaline polymers.
that are usually cylindrical in shape. The drugs employed in
these products were frequently quite potent and combined Ingredients
with lactose and possibly a bonder, such as powder acacia. A number of inert materials known as additives or
Triturates used in tablets are most often friable and soft [18]. excipients are present in tablets in in addition to the active
components [19].
Action wise Different excipients are given in Table 1
Modified release tablet

Table 1: List of Excipients in tablets

Sr. No Ingredients Examples
Calcium Phosphate; Carboxymethyl cellulose Calcium; Cellulose; Dextrin; Lactose; Microcrystalline Cellulose;
1 Diluents
PR gelatinized starch; Sorbitol; Starch
Acacia, Alginic Acid, Carboxymethyl cellulose, Cellulose, Dextrin, Gelatin, Liquid Glucose, Magnesium
2 Binders Aluminum Silicate, Maltodextrin, Methylcellulose, Povidone, Sodium Alginate, Starch, & Zein are a few of the
binders.
Sodium Benzoate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Poloxamer, Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Stearate, Glyceryl Palmitostearate,
3 Lubricants
& Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Talc, Zinc Stearate, Stearic Acid, & Sodium Stearyl Sulfate
4 Glidants Magnesium Talc, Tribasic Calcium Phosphate, Cellulose, Starch, & Trisilicate
5 Anti –adherents Corn Starch; Metallic Stearate; Talc
Alginic Acid, Carboxymethyl cellulose, Cellulose, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Croscarmellose sodium, Potassium
6 Disintegrants
Polacrilin, & Povidone are the 6 disintegrants.
7 Coloring agents FD&C or D&C Dyes or Lake Pigments
8 Flavoring agents Ethyl Maltol; Ethyl Vanillin; Menthol; Vanillin

Diluents Disintegrates
When the drug dosage by itself is inadequate to produce the A substance added to a tablet formulation to helps it break
required bulk of the tablet, diluents are used аѕ fillers. or dissolves when it comes in contact with fluid in the
Moreover used to improve consistency and allow direct gastrointestinal tract.
compression.
Colouring Agents
Binders A tablet can contain dyes and colours for one of the 3
To produce cohesive compacts for tablet which are instantly reasons:
compressed.  Masking of drugs with an unwanted colour.
 Product identification.
Lubricants  The production of a more elegant product.
Lubricants used to reduce friction among particles, prevent
adherence of tablet materials to die and punch surface, and Flavouring Agents
they can help accelerate up the process of tablet granulation. For chewable tablets, flavouring oils are recommended.
Usually, the oil is added in a dry form, such spray-dried
Glidants bead lets.
By reducing the friction between the particles, gliders are
designed to improve the flow of granules or powder Absorbents
material. If a product contains a substance with a high affinity for
water, absorbents must be included in the formulation of the
Anti-adherents tablet. If hygroscopic components are present, the blend
To stop the material from sticking to the tablet press walls, becomes moist and difficult to manage throughout
anti-adherents are added to the formulations of the tablets. production

Preparation of Tablets
Tablets are prepared by three methods
 Wet granulation method
 Dry granulation method
 Direct compression

Wet Granulation Method

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It is the most common and frequently employed method. added to the granulation, appropriately blended, and
This process involves a number of steps, including weighing compressed before the compressed slug is sent through the
the components, mixing, granulating, and screening damp mesh or through the mill (Figure 10).
pass, as well as drying, lubricating, and compressing the The powder combination is compressed during dry
tablets. Mixing together the main active ingredient, diluent, granulation process without the use of heat or solvent. The
and disintegrate, it is then allowed to flow through the sieve two basic steps are to compress the material into a compact,
(sifting). The initial mixture is stirred as the binding agent and then to mill the compact to produce granules. There are
solution is added. To avoid over wetting of the tablet, the two approaches to dry granulation.
amount of binding agent added should be appropriate. If the
powder is improperly moistened, the granules will be Slugging process
excessively soft and it may break down during lubrication, Granulation by slugging is the compressing of dry powder
making tablet compression problematic. used in tablet formulation with a tablet press that has a die
Tray drying is the most common method of drying tablet chamber with a large enough diameter to fill it quickly.
granules. In the past, tray drying was the most popular way
of drying tablet granulations, but fluid-bed dryers may
Roller compaction
probably replace it. The Granules are allowed to flow
A device known as a chilsonator can also be used to
through the screen after drying; typically, nylon cloth with a
condense powder applying pressure rolls. The Chilsonator
mesh size between 60 to 100 is utilised. Lubricant is applied
develops a compressed mass in a constant, continuous flow,
as fine powder after dry granulation in order to effectively
unlike a tablet machine.
fill the die cavity (Figure 10).
Direct compression
Dry Granulation Method
The powdered ingredient is directly compressed into tablets
This method is used to prepare tablets when the ingredients
during direct compression. Using direct compression when
are highly sensitive to moisture or cannot withstand high
the medication makes up the majority of the tablet’s total
drying temperatures. Slugging may be used to form the
weight (Figure 10). It is possible to produce tablets with a
granules in the tablet preparation process if the tablet
suitable diluent that serves as a carrier or vehicle for the
ingredients are extremely moisture-sensitive or cannot
medication and has a drug substance concentration of no
withstand high drying temperatures. Several steps, including
more than 25%. Tablets made using the above mentioned
slugging of the powder bulk, are usually eliminated by dry
technique are compressed using a single station or multiple
granulation or double compression. To make the slug, the
stations of a machine [20, 21].
active ingredient, diluent, and lubricant are combined. In
order to produce the tablets, the remaining lubricant is

Fig 10: processing steps in wet granulation, dry granulation and direct compression

Problems in tablet manufacturing number of problems. The majority of visual defects are
Any visual or functional defects should not appear in an caused either by inadequate fines or moisture in the granules
ideal tablet. The advancements and innovations in tablet that are ready for compression, or by inadequate machine
production have not decreased the problems which are often setting. Poor formulation is the source of functional defects.
encountered in production; instead, they have increased Many of the issues require in-depth knowledge of tablet
problems, mainly because of the complexity of tablet presses and granulation processing, which can only be
presses and/or the increased demands of quality. During acquired by exhaustive study and rich experience [22].
manufacturing, an industrial pharmacist usually runs along a

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Following are the defects that are found during tablet understand each dosage form, tablets here are classified by
manufacturing their route of administration and by the type of drug
1. Weight variations delivery system they represent within that route.
2. capping
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