Vol. 4, Issue 5 (2015)

Author(s):
Renu, Jyoti Dahiya, Pawan Jalwal, Balvinder Singh

Abstract:
Chewable tablets which are required to be broken and chewed in between the teeth before ingestion. These tablets are given to the children who have difficulty in swallowing and to the adults who dislike swallowing. These tablets are intended to disintegrate smoothly in the mouth at a moderate rate either with or without actual chewing, characteristically chewable tablets have a smooth texture upon disintegration, are pleasant tasting and leave no bitter or unpleasant taste. Geriatric and pediatric patients and travelling patients who may not have ready access to water are most need of easy swallowing dosage forms like chewable tablets. The composition of chewable tablet consists of gum core, which may or may not be coated. The core is composed of an insoluble gum base like fillers, waxes, antioxidants, sweeteners, flavouring agents. The percentage of gum base varies from 30-60% depending upon the base used and its properties. A flavouring agent is included to make it more palatable. Various factors involved in the formulation of chewable tablets. The major formulation factors are flow, lubrication, disintegration, organoleptic properties, compressibility, compatibility and stability, which are common to regular (swallowed) and chewable tablets; however, organoleptic properties of the active drug substances are primary concern here. A formulator may use one or more approaches to arrive at a combination of formula and process that result in product with good organoleptic properties. Such a substance must have acceptable flow, compressibility and stability characteristics.