Pharmaceutical Tablets Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is NOT an advantage of using tablets as an oral dosage form?

Convenience of administration

Greatest dose precision

Compact and lightweight

Poor dissolution properties (correct)

Which type of tablet is designed to resist gastric fluid but disintegrate in the intestine?

Film-coated tablet

Controlled-release tablet

Enteric-coated tablet (correct)

Sugar-coated tablet

What is a disadvantage associated with the use of compressed tablets?

Easy to swallow and administer

Difficult to mask bitter taste without coatings (correct)

Best stability compared to other forms

Lightweight for packaging

Which type of compressed tablet is likely to use a polymeric substance for coating?

Film-coated tablet Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tablet types is primarily used for delayed release of medication?

Multiple compressed tablet Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of sugar-coating a tablet?

To mask objectionable tastes and odors Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is associated with controlled-release tablets?

Prolonged therapeutic effect over time Signup and view all the answers

Effervescent tablets are specifically designed to do which of the following?

Dissolve in water to produce a solution Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of lubricants in tablet compression?

To reduce friction and wear Signup and view all the answers

Which type of component is best described as preventing tablet materials from sticking to the die walls?

Anti-adhesives Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT classified under essential disintegrants?

Flavoring agents Signup and view all the answers

What role do glidants play in tablet formulation?

To improve flow characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Which component is typically used to achieve a pastel color in tablet formulations?

Soluble dyes Signup and view all the answers

What is a common method for incorporating colorants into tablet formulations?

Blending dry with diluents during mixing Signup and view all the answers

Which component is used in granulation to ensure that the granules flow smoothly?

Glidants Signup and view all the answers

Which components are classified under supplementary components in tablet formulations?

Colorants and Sweeteners Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of diluents or bulking agents in tablet formulation?

They make up the major portion of the tablet. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using lactose in tablet formulation?

Binders may be needed when drug presence interferes with cohesion. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does spray-dried lactose offer in direct compression methods?

Maintains flow properties even when wet granulated. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following starches is NOT mentioned as a source for tablet formulation?

Barley Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable characteristic of mannitol in tablet formulation?

It is desirable for water-sensitive drugs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of sorbitol as an excipient in tablet formulation?

It is very hygroscopic at high humidity. Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using starches in tablet formulation?

They provide a moisture balance despite having a moisture content of 12-14%. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of lactose USP regarding its physical properties?

It has a high melting point of 202C. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using sucrose in tablet formulation?

It tends to turn brown in contact with acidic substances. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an advantage of using microcrystalline cellulose (avicel)?

It minimizes case-hardening of tablets when used in wet granulations. Signup and view all the answers

What factor does NOT affect the disintegration time of a tablet?

The compatibility of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Signup and view all the answers

Which binder solution is recommended for tablet formulation?

Aqueous gelatin solution at 10-20% w/w. Signup and view all the answers

Why are binders viewed as crucial in tablet formulations?

They influence the mechanical properties and integrity of tablets. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common property of disintegrants in tablet formulation?

They accelerate the release of API from the tablet matrix. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs if a binder is used in dry form instead of as a solution?

It may lead to poor tablet cohesion. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the selection of binding agents is true?

Choice of binding agents is influenced by the desired binding forces and stability studies. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a drawback of direct compression in tablet formulation?

Most medicinal agents are difficult to tablet. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the dry granulation method?

Weighing of the ingredients. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main disadvantages of wet methods for tablet granulation?

It involves several separate steps. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of tablets refers to the time it takes to disintegrate in a specified environment?

Disintegration Time Signup and view all the answers

Which step comes after mixing ingredients in the wet granulation process?

Granulation into a damp mass. Signup and view all the answers

What issue can arise from weight variation in tablets?

Inconsistent hardness. Signup and view all the answers

During the dry granulation process, what are the 'slugs' formed from?

Finely divided powdered materials. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the problems associated with tablet formulation that can lead to compromised quality?

Lamination. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Tablets

Tablets are solid preparations containing one or more active ingredients, produced by compressing uniform volumes of particles.
Offer various advantages, including precise dosing, compact size, enhanced stability, and convenience of administration.
Drawbacks include challenges with compressing certain drugs due to their amorphous or flocculent nature, poor wetting or dissolution properties leading to bioavailability issues, and dealing with bitter taste, objectionable odor, or sensitivity to oxygen or moisture.

Compressed Tablets (CT)

Classified into various types:
- Sugar-coated tablets (SCT)
- Film-coated Tablets (FCT)
- Enteric-Coated (ECT)
- Multiple Compressed Tablet (MCT)
  - Layered Tablets
  - Press-Coated Tablets
- Controlled-Release Tablets
- Tablets For Solution
- Effervescent Tablets
- Compressed Suppositories or Inserts
- Buccal or Sublingual Tablets

Sugar-coated Tablets (SCT)

Used to mask unpleasant tastes and odors, or protect sensitive materials from oxidation.

Film-coated Tablets (FCT)

Coated with a thin layer of water-soluble film.
Employ various film-forming polymers.

Enteric-Coated (ECT)

Resistant to gastric fluids but disintegrate in the intestine.
Used for drugs inactive or destroyed in the stomach, those irritating the mucosa, or for delayed release.

Multiple Compressed Tablet (MCT)

Layered Tablets: Prepared by compressing tablet granulation.

Components

Essential Components:
- Diluents or bulking agents: Represent the majority of the tablet, examples include Lactose USP (Hydrous, Anhydrous), Starches, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Sucrose, and Microcrystalline Cellulose (Avicel).
- Binders: Influences tablet characteristics like disintegration, wear on punches, and mottling. Solutions, like starch paste, gelatin solution, glucose solution, and ethylcellulose solution are more effective than dispersed binders.
- Disintegrants: Affect the release rate of the API, measured by disintegration time. Classification includes starches, clays, cellulose, algins, and gums.
Compressed Aides:
- Lubricants: Prevent friction and wear, especially critical during tablet ejection.
- Glidants: Improve flow characteristics by reducing interparticulate friction.
- Anti-adhesive: Prevent sticking to punches and die walls.
Supplementary Components:
- Colorants: FDA approved, used to improve aesthetics and product identification.
- Flavors and Sweeteners: Enhance palatability.
- Adsorbents: Used to control drug release.

Tablet Presses

Basic Elements of tablet press:
- Hopper: Holds the granulation.
- Feed Frame: Guides the material into the die.
- Dies: Controls the size and shape of the tablet.
- Punches: Compact the material.

Granulation Processes

Dry Methods:
- Preferred method, eliminates the need for wetting and drying, minimizing activity loss for moisture/heat-sensitive drugs.
- Direct Compression: Limited to certain crystalline substances due to the difficulty of directly compressing many medicinal agents, potential disintegration issues, and economic impracticality for low-dosage drugs.
- Granulation by compression (Precompression or Double Compression method): Involves compacting powder into slugs and then screening.
Wet Methods:
- Most common, involves separate steps, longer processing time, and higher labor cost.
- Steps: Weighing, Mixing, Granulation, Screening, Drying, Dry screening, Lubrication, and Compression.

Tablet Characteristics

Diameter Size, Shape, Thickness, Weight, Hardness, Disintegration Time, and Dissolution.

Problems

Chipping, Capping, Lamination, Mottling, Weight Variation, Hardness Variation, and Double Impression.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential aspects of pharmaceutical tablets, including their classification, advantages, and disadvantages. It delves into different types of compressed tablets such as sugar-coated, film-coated, and controlled-release tablets. Test your knowledge on the formulation and characteristics of these solid preparations.