Abstract
Fast dissolving tablets are those intended to dissolve on a patients tongue rather than swallowed. This is becoming an increasingly popular dosage form as typically no water is required. This doses form has received ever-increasing demand during the last decade, and the field has become a rapidly growing area in the pharmaceutical industry. Oral drug delivery remains the preferred route for administration of various drugs. Recent developments in the technology have prompted scientists to develop FDTs with improved patient compliance and convenience. The popularity and usefulness of the formulation resulted in development of several FDT technologies. FDTs are solid unit dosage forms, which disintegrate or dissolve rapidly in the mouth without chewing and water. FDTs or orally disintegrating tablets provide an advantage particularly for pediatric and geriatric populations who have difficulty in swallowing conventional tablets and capsules. Developing FDTs can be challenging since the tablet must dissolve fast along with having a pleasant taste and mouth feel. Typically, the tablet should dissolve in less than 30 seconds according to the USP disintegration test method. While designing FDTs, it is mandatory to consider the physiochemical and pharmaceutical aspects of the drug as well as the biopharmaceutical aspects. Methods of preparation include freeze drying, cotton candy, molding, spray drying, compaction and mass extrusion. In the evaluation process, although many parameters are of that of the tablets, the standard pass range varies so as to meet the requirement of fast disintegrating properties of the formulation.
