Abstract

MOUTH DISSOLVING TABLET: REVIEW

Preeti Pokhariya*, G Ganarajan and Preeti Kothiyal

ABSTRACT

Oral delivery is currently the gold standard in the pharmaceutical industry where it is regarded as the safest, most convenient and most economical method of drug delivery having the highest patient compliance. Fast- or mouth dissolving tablets have been formulated for pediatric, geriatric, and bedridden patients and for active patients who are busy and traveling and may not have access to water. Fast dissolving Tablets are disintegrating and/or dissolve rapidly in the saliva without the need for water. FDTs are solid dosage forms which dissolve rapidly in saliva without chewing and additional water. Some tablets are designed to dissolve in saliva remarkably fast, within a few seconds, and are true fast-dissolving tablets. Others contain agents to enhance the rate of tablet disintegration in the oral cavity, and are more appropriately termed fast-disintegrating tablets, as they may take up to a minute to completely disintegrate. This tablet format is designed to allow administration of an oral solid dose form in the absence of water or fluid intake. Such tablets readily dissolve or disintegrate in the saliva/ oral cavity within less than one minute (within <60 seconds) leaving an easy-to-swallow residue. Such formulations provide an opportunity for product line extension in the Many elderly persons will have difficulties in taking conventional oral dosage forms (viz., solutions, suspensions, tablets, and capsules) because of hand tremors and dysphagia. Swallowing problems also are common in young individuals because of their underdeveloped muscular and nervous systems. Other groups that may experience problems using conventional oral dosage forms include the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, and patients who are uncooperative, on reduced liquid-intake plans, or are nauseated. In some cases such as motion sickness, sudden episodes of allergic attack or coughing, and an unavailability of water, swallowing conventional tablets may be difficult.Recent advances in Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) aim for designing dosage forms, convenient to be manufactured and administered, free of side effects, offering immediate release and enhanced bioavailability, so as to achieve better patient compliance. Though oral drug delivery systems, preferably, tablets are the most widely accepted dosage forms, for being compact, offering uniform dose and painless delivery. Yet, dysphagia is the most common disadvantage of conventional tablets. This is seen to afflict nearly 35% of the general population and associated with a number of conditions, like parkinsonism, mental disability, motion sickness, unconsciousness, unavailability of water etc. To overcome such problems, certain innovative drug delivery systems, like „Mouth Dissolving Tablets‟ (MDT) have been developed. These are novel dosage forms which dissolve in saliva within a few seconds, when put on tongue. Such MDTs can be administered anywhere and anytime, without the need of water and are thus quite suitable for children, elderly and mentally disabled patients.Development of a fast dissolving tablet is the most convenient and safe mode of drug administration with great patient compliance. FDTs overcome the disadvantages of conventional dosage form especially dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) in pediatric and geriatric patients. Apart from the conventional methods of fabrication, this process also provides the detailed concept of some unique technologies like freeze drying, direct compression, spray drying, tablet molding, sublimation, fast dissolving films cotton candy process, along with their advantages and limitations.

Keywords: Mouth dissolving tablets=MDT.