Orally disintegrating tablets are also known as ODT or fast-dissolving tablets. As the name indicates these tablets are designed to dissolve orally in the mouth rather than in the stomach like other tablets.ODT is manufactured to dissolve on the tongue and is not to be swallowed.
Why Orally Disintegrating Tablets?
One common question is why do we manufacture orally disintegrating tablets as we already have conventional tablets, effervescent tablets and lozenges?
The answer is as follow,
- ODT is prescribed for those patients who have swallowing issues commonly known as dysphagia.Â
- Dysphagia is a condition in which usually old age patients are not able to swallow the tablets or capsules and the drugs can not be given through other routes due to compatibility issues.
- For Rapidly dissolving or orally disintegrating tablets no water is required.
- Rapidly dissolving tablets provide a more rapid effect than Effervescent tablets.
US-FDA
The first drug endorsed by US-FDA was Claritin in 1996. Claritin is a brand name and it contains Loratadine which is manufactured as an orally disintegrating tablet.
FDA guidelines state that all the orally disintegrating or rapidly dissolving tablets should disintegrate within 30 seconds.
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Manufacturing Procedure
Rapidly dissolving tablets are manufactured by conventional compression methods or by Lyophilization.
- The compression method used for manufacturing ODT is known as the loose compression method means in this method high pressure is not applied. We compress the tablets at low hardness so that they may easily dissolve.
- Mannitol is a commonly used excipient in manufacturing rapidly dissolving tablets and it is used as a diluent.
- Mannitol gives a good mouthfeel.
PackagingÂ
- Rapidly dissolving tablets are available in blister packaging or bottle packaging.
- Packaging of orally disintegrating tablets is difficult because of the risk of breakage during packaging operation due to less hardness.
ExamplesÂ
Following are some commonly used orally disintegrating tablets.
Lansoprazole Orally Disintegrating Tablet
Lansoprazole is also available in an orally disintegrating form and it is used for following according to doctors advice
- It is used to treat gastrointestinal ulcers.
- Lansoprazole orally disintegrating Tablet is used to treat heartburn.
- To prevent GERD.
- To treat and prevent ulcers caused by NSAIDs
How To Use?
Place Lansoprazole orally disintegrating Tablet on the tongue until dissolved.
Do not use water.
Ondansetron Orally Disintegrating Tablets
Ondansetron tablets are also available in the form of orally disintegrating tablets and these are used for treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy according to the doctor’s advice.
Disadvantages Of ODT
Following are some limitations or drawbacks of rapidly dissolving tablets,
- No controlled release formulation can be prepared in this form.
- Packaging creates problems and there are chances of breakage.
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