Which Tablet Medication is Right for Me? Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Type of Tablet Medication
According to the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia, 6th Edition, tablets are solid preparations that contain active ingredients, with or without excipients. Based on their purpose and site of administration, there are various types of tablets, including buccal tablets, sublingual tablets, effervescent tablets, chewable tablets, slow-release tablets, and lozenges.
Buccal and Sublingual Tablet
Buccal and sublingual tablets are types of tablets designed for direct absorption through the oral mucosa, allowing for a faster therapeutic effect. Buccal tablets are consumed by placing them between the cheek and gum, while sublingual tablets are placed under the tongue. The oral mucosa is rich in blood supply and lymphatic vessels, enabling drugs absorbed through it to enter directly into the systemic circulation via the jugular vein. Medications administered buccally or sublingually bypass the first-pass metabolism in the liver and hydrolysis by stomach acid.
Effervescent Tablet
Effervescent tablets are a type of tablet composed of a mixture of acid and sodium bicarbonate, with citric acid or tartaric acid typically used as the acid component. Effervescent tablets are consumed by first dispersing them in water, where they release carbon dioxide upon dissolving. These tablets have a high absorption rate and are suitable for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules.
Chewable Tablets
According to the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia, 6th Edition, chewable tablets are intended to be chewed, leaving a pleasant-tasting residue in the mouth, making them easy to swallow without leaving a bitter or unpleasant aftertaste. Chewable tablets are designed for children and adults who have difficulty swallowing tablets, as they are formulated to disintegrate and dissolve in the mouth before ingestion. Therefore, in chewable tablet formulations, it is crucial to consider taste by adding appropriate sweetening excipients.
Slow-release Tablets
Slow-release tablets are designed to release active ingredients over a specific period after administration. These tablets control the release of the drug from the dosage form, reducing the need for frequent dosing and helping to prevent patient non-compliance.
Lozenges Tablets
Lozenges are tablets typically made with flavored and sweetened bases, designed to slowly dissolve or disintegrate in the mouth. Lozenges can provide a local effect in the mouth, mask the unpleasant taste of the drug, and enhance absorption as the active ingredient is absorbed directly through the oral mucosa into the bloodstream.
Wow, interesting! It turns out there are so many types of tablet medications around us. After reading this article, you will understand the differences between the various types of tablet medications.
If you are a pharmaceutical manufacturer, your drug product must undergo laboratory testing before it can be distributed. You can conduct your drug product testing at IML Research!
Author: Devira
Reference
Bunker, G.S. & Anderson. 1994. Tablet Dalam L. Lachman, H.A. Lieberman & J.L. Kanig (Ed). Teori dan Praktek Farmasi Industri Jilid II, Jakarta: UI Press.
Departemen Kesehatan RI. Farmakope Indonesia edisi VI. Departemen Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. Jakarta: Kementrian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia; 2020.
Felipe, L. L., Terry, B. E., Catherine, T., & Mine, O. G. (2015). Formulation Approaches to Pediatric Oral Drug Delivery: Benefits and Elimination of Current Platforms. Expert Opinion Drug Delivery, XII(11), 1727-1740.
Indurkhya, A., Patel, M., Sharma, P., Abed, S. N., Shnoudeh, A., Maheshwari, R., Deb, P. K., & Tekade, R. K. (2018). Influence of Drug Properties and Routes of Drug Administration on the Design of Controlled Release System. In Dosage Form Design Considerations: Volume I. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814423-7.00006-X
Ipci, K., Öktemer, T., Birdane, L., Altıntoprak, N., Bayar Muluk, N., Passali, D., Lopatin, A., Bellussi, L., Mladina, R., Pawankar, R., & Cingi, C. (2016). Effervescent tablets: a safe and practical delivery system for drug administration. ENT Updates. https://doi.org/10.2399/jmu.2016001009
Nurhanifah, A. R., & Gozali, D. (2018). ARTIKEL ULASAN: TABLET KUNYAH DI BIDANG FARMASI. Farmaka, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.24198/jf.v16i1.17514
