Basic formulation information on formulating, developing,testing and manufacturing OTC or Rx

pharmaceutical or nutritional tablets. If you have a specific question regarding tablets, please email us

1. A tablet is a combination of ingredients that is compressed into a solid mass. The basic components of an
immediate release pharmaceutical tablet are:
active drug substance
diluent or filler (see compression aids)
binder
disintegrant
lubricant
Optional excipients include:
glidant
anti-adherent
anti-static agent
colorant
flavor
sweetener
surfactant (wetting agent)
anti-oxidant
film-coating
Need a supplier of excipients, ingredients, instruments or equipment used to formulate, develop, test or
manufacture nutritional or pharmaceutical tablets ? Submit in Excipients Express!!!
2. Types of Tablets:
Tablets have the ability to be produced with many different properties including immediate, delayed or
sustained release of active drug substance. They can be single or multiple compression (double or triple
layered, tablet within a tablet). They can also be coated with an active drug substance, film or sugar coating.
3. Tablet Properties:
Physically Acceptable and Stable - tablet print or imprint must be legible, and tablets must be free from chips,
cracks, contamination, uneven coloration, etc. Tablets must remain whole during manufacture, coating,
packaging, transport and dispensing. In-process controls include:
PARAMETER

VARIABLES
Limits on tablet weight are generally set as 3 to 5% of a formulation specific
target weight

Tablet Weight

Some issues that may cause weight variation are powder flow problems,
improper die fill, and powder size distribution
Expresses as load required to crush a tablet on end. Measured using a tablet
hardness tester.

Tablet Hardness

Generally, the larger the tablet, the higher the hardness. Smaller tablets (1/4"
round) usually have a hardness <5 kp. Larger tablets usually have a hardness
<20 kp.
Some issues that may cause variations in tablet hardness are inconsistent tablet