Dosage forms (also called unit doses) are pharmaceutical

drug products in the form in which they are marketed for use, with a
specific mixture of active ingredients and inactive components
(excipients), in a particular configuration (such as a capsule shell, for
example), and apportioned into a particular dose. For example, two
products may both be amoxicillin, but one is in 500 mg capsules and
another is in 250 mg chewable tablets. The term unit dose can also
sometimes encompass non-reusable packaging as well (especially
when each drug product is individually packaged[1])
TABLETS
Tablets may be defined as the solid unit dosage form of medicament
or medicaments with suitable excipients. Tablets are prepared either
by molding or by compression. It comprises a mixture of active
substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or
compacted from a powder into a solid dose. The excipients can
include diluents, binders or granulating agents, glidants (flow aids)
and lubricants to ensure efficient tabletting; disintegrants to promote
tablet break-up in the digestive tract; sweeteners or flavours to
enhance taste; and pigments to make the tablets visually attractive or
aid in visual identification of an unknown tablet. A polymer coating is
often applied to make the tablet smoother and easier to swallow,
to control the release rate of the active ingredient, to make it more
resistant to the environment (extending its shelf life), or to enhance the
tablet's appearance.
ADVANTAGES

1. They are unit dosage form and offer the greatest capabilities of all oral
dosage form for the greatest dose precision and the least content
variability.

2. Cost is lowest of all oral dosage form.

3. Lighter and compact.

4. Easiest and cheapest to package and strip.

5. Easy to swallowing with least tendency for hang‐up.

6. Sustained release product is possible by enteric coating.

7. Objectionable odour and bitter taste can be masked by coating technique.

8. Suitable for large scale production.

9.Greatest chemical and microbial stability over all oral dosage form.

10. Product identification is easy and rapid requiring no additional steps when
employing an embossed and/or monogrammed punch faceThey are unit dosage
form and offer the greatest capabilities of all oral dosage form for the greatest
dose precision and the least content

DISADVANTAGES
 .
1. Difficult to swallow in case of children and unconscious patients.

2. Some drugs resist compression into dense compacts, owing to

amorphous nature, low density character.

3. Drugs with poor wetting, slow dissolution properties, optimum absorption

high in GIT may be difficult to formulate or manufacture as a tablet that will
still provide adequate or full drug bioavailability.

4. Bitter testing drugs, drugs with an objectionable odor or drugs that

are sensitive to oxygen may require encapsulation or coating. In such
cases, capsule may offer the best and lowest cost.

5. Easiest and cheapest to package and strip.

6. Easy to swallowing with least tendency for hang‐up.

7. Sustained release product is possible by enteric coating.

8. Objectionable odour and bitter taste can be masked by coating technique.

TYPES OF TABLET

TABLETS INGESTED ORALLY

1. Compressed tablet: These are uncoated tablets made by compression of

granules. These provides rapid disintegration and drug release. e.g.
Paracetamol tablet.

2. Multiple compressed tablet: These tablets are prepared to separate

physically or chemically incompatible ingredients or to produce repeat
action or prolonged action products. The ingredients of formulation are
 compressed into a core tablet and the incompatible substance with other
excipients are compressed over the previously compressed core tablet.

3. Sustained action tablet: These tablets when taken orally release the
medicament in a sufficient quantity as and when required to maintain
maximum effective concentration of drug in the blood.

4. Enteric coated tablet: These tablets are coated with the material
which does not disintegrate in stomach but passes through as it is
i.e. enteric polymer e.g.: Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate
etc. These tablets dissolve in intestine and are site specific.

5. Sugar coated tablet: The compressed tablets with sugar coating are
called sugar coated tablets. It is done to mask the bitter and unpleasant
taste and odour of the medicament. It enhances the appearance and protects the drug
from atmospheric effects. e.g. Multivitamin tablet

6. Film coated tablet: These are the compressed tablets having a film coating of

film coating polymer like hydroxy propyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose ,

HPMC. It also protects the formulation from atmospheric effects. These
are tasteless, have increase in tablet weight and have less elegance. e.g.
Metronidazole tablet

7. Chewable tablet: These tablets are chewed in mouth and are broken
into small pieces. Disintegration time is reduced and rate of absorption
increases. Easily administered for infants and elderly persons. e.g.
Antacid tablet.
 TABLET USED IN BUCCAL CAVITY

1. Buccal Tablets- These tablets are to be placed in buccal pouch or between

the gum and lip or cheek.
2. Sublingual tablets- These tablets are to be placed under the tounge.
3. Lozenge tablets- These tablets are prepared to exert a local effect on mouth
or throught. These tablet are designed to treat sore throat and control coughing. These
tablets genrally used drugs such as antiseptic, anaesthetic, antibacterial, demulcent etc.
4. Dental cone-These are relatively minor compressed tablet meant for placing
in empty socket after tooth extraction.

TABLETS ADMINISTER BY OTHER ROUTES

1. Implantation tablet:

These tablets are placed below the skin or inserted

subcutaneously by means of a minor surgical operation and are
slowly absorbed. These must be sterile and are made by heavy
compression and fusion. e.g. Testosterone tablet.

2. Vaginal tablet:

These tablets are meant to dissolve slowly in vaginal cavity.

These are ovoid or pear shaped and are used to release steroids,
antibacterial and antiseptics etc to avoid infections. e.g.
Clotrimazole tablet.

TABLETS USED TO PREPARE SOLUTIONS

1. Effervescent tablet:
These tablets when added in water produce effervescence. So
they dissolved rapidly in water due to the chemical reaction
which takes place between alkali bicarbonate and citric acid or
tartaric acid. These tablets are to be protected from
atmospheric moisture during storage (in well closed
container). e.g. Disprin tablet (Aspirin)

2. Dispensing tablet:
These are intended to be added to a given volume of water to
produce a solution of a given concentration. The medicaments
given are silver proteinate and quaternary ammonium
compounds. These are highly toxic if taken orally and great care
must be taken in packaging and labelling. e.g. Enzyme tablet
(Digiplex)

3. Hypodermic tablet:
These are compressed tablets which are composed of one or
more drugs. These tablets are dissolved in sterile water and
administered parenterally.

4. Tablet triturates:
These are small cylindrical, moulded or compressed tablets
which contains a potent medicament with a diluent. On small
scale hand operated whereas for bulk production automated
machines are used. e.g. Enzyme tablet (Digiplex)
 Suitable for large scale producGreatest chemical and microbial stability over all
oral dosage form.

Product identification is easy and rapid requiring no additional

steps when employing an embossed and/or monogrammed
punch face