Immediate Release Tablets

What are immediate release tablets?

Tablet or capsule disintegrates quickly in the stomach fluids and releases the drug to provide rapid onset of therapeutic effect following dissolution and absorption in gastrointestinal tract

What are the purposes of coating tablets?

• protection of in the ingredients from the environment

• masking of unpleasant taste

• facilitate swallowing of tablet

• masking any batch difference in appearance

• facilitate identification

• facilitate filling and packaging

• improved mechanical resistance

• minimising patient/operator contact with drug substance

• control drug release

What are sugar coated tablets?

Disintegrate/dissolve in water - immediate release

What are examples used to make sugar coated tablets?

shellac, cellulose acetate phthalate

What is film coating?

immediate release coating used polymer that is readily soluble in water or at low pH

What are used to make film coating?

cellulose derivatives, methyl cellulose

What are multiple compressed tablets/layered tablets?

have two or more layers of ingredients, control release of formulation

What are effervescent tablets?

use acids and carbonates to rapidly fizz and dissolve completely in water, offering faster absorption and a pleasant taste. Uncoated tablets contain water soluble lubricant and no binder

What are dispersible/soluble tablets?

break down into a uniform suspension (fine particles) in water, primarily designed for easier swallowing, often used in pediatric or geriatric care. Can be film-coated or uncoated

What are sublingual tablets?

placed under the tongue, drugs are dissolved and rapidly absorbed to give rapid systemic action avoiding first pass metabolism

What might fast disintegrating tablets (sublingual) contain to promote rapid disintegration?

Superdisintegrates such as sodium starch glycolate

What are buccal tablets?

place in the side of the cheek, drugs are dissolve and rapidly absorbed to give rapid systemic action avoiding first pass metabolism

What are meltlets?

orally-disintegrating tablets or mouth dissolving tablets, they start to melt in saliva mouth quickly and are swallowed without the need for water. Fast action

What are chewable tablets?

mechanically disintegrated in the mouth (no disintegrant), drug is not dissolved in mouth but swallowed and dissolved in the intestine

Why are chewable tablets always very big?

To stop people swallowing the tablets whole

What are compressed lozenges?

dissolve drug in the mouth for systemic uptake or for local medication in the mouth or through

What are vaginal tablet/pessaries?

one pessary which is a tablet inserted high into the vagina to get right to the source of the infection

What are immediate release soft capsules?

rapid dissolution - designed for immediate release, they typically dissolve in the stomach within 5-10 minutes. Enhanced bioavailability as the drugs are often pre-dissolved or suspended, allowing for faster absorption compared to tablets.

What are advantages of capsules over tablets?

• capsule provides better and more effective relief to the body against the problem as it breaks down quickly and the medicine starts metabolising

• capsules can mask unpleasant taste and odour

  • capsules have higher bioavailability so that it can easily enter the bloodstream

What are disadvantages of capsules over tablets?

• capsules found to be less stable and less reactive to environmental conditions, specifically humidity

• due to shorter shelf life, it expired more quickly than the tablet

• capsules were found to be the most expensive in comparison to tablets because they contained fluid in them

• some of the capsules may contain gelatin originating from animals, hence tablets more suitable for consumption of vegans and vegetarians