Excipients for immediate-release tablets

Question 1

What is an IR tablet?

Answer 1

Uncoated (mostly) / uncoated tablet, with a purpose to have the a rapid rate of disintegration

Question 2

What is the time for dissolution that complies with the BP?

Answer 2

75% in 45 minutes

Question 3

Which excipients are in an IR tablet that influence the tablet formation?

Answer 3

Filler
Binder
Lubricant
Anti-adherent
Glidant

Question 4

Which excipients in IR influence the drug release & absorption?

Answer 4

Disintegrant
Dissolution enhancer
Absorption enhancer

Question 5

Which excipients influence organoleptic enhancement?

Answer 5

Coating
Colourant
Flavouring

Question 6

What are the acceptance criterias for IR tablets?

Answer 6

Must past Stage 1/2/3

Question 7

What is the function of the filler/dilutent?

Answer 7

Makes tablets more than 50mg easier for handling

Question 8

What is the function of the binder?

Answer 8

Adhesive

Increases compactability and mechanical strength

Question 9

What is the function of a disintegrant?

Answer 9

Breaks the tablet up into smaller particles (when it enters the body)

Question 10

What is the function of a lubricant?

Answer 10

Reduces friction

Question 11

What is the function of an anti-adherent?

Answer 11

Prevents adhesion to punches (during compaction process)

Question 12

What is the function of the glidant?

Answer 12

Improves powder flowability

Question 13

What is the function of the coating?

Answer 13

Masks taste
Improves ease of swallowing
Reduces friability
Improves stability

Question 14

What is the function of the colourant?

Answer 14

Tablet identification
In tablet core or coating
Printing ink

Question 15

What is the function of flavouring?

Answer 15

Enhance test

Not usually used for tablets that are swallowed

Question 16

What is the common lubricant used in paracetamol?

Answer 16

Stearic acid which can function as anti-adherent and glidant. (hydrophobic)

Question 17

What is the common binder used in paracetamol?

Answer 17

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)

Question 18

What is a caplet?

Answer 18

An elongated tablet

Question 19

What binder is obtained from animals?

Answer 19

Gelatin

Question 20

What are some properties of gelatin?

Answer 20

semi-synthetic, odourless, soluble in water

Question 21

What are the two types of disintergants?

Answer 21

Traditional and superdisintegrants

Question 22

What is a traditional disintegrant?

Answer 22

Polymers swell in 2D upon hydration

Question 23

What is a superdisintegrant?

Answer 23

Cross-linked polymers swell in 3D upon hydration,much more effective for this matter

Question 24

What is the purpose of disintegrant?

Answer 24

Increase the surface area

Question 25

The larger the surface area, the ..... the dissolution.

Answer 25

Quicker

Question 26

What are the mechanism of disintegration (6)?

Answer 26

1) Swelling 2) Wicking 3) Strain recovery 4) Heat of interaction (wetting) 5) Interruption of bonding forces 6) Repulsion

Question 27

What is wicking?

Answer 27

Hydrophillic polymers create hydrophillic conduits *water diffuses through pores, creates a hydrophillic passage causing water to come through, therein starting the swelling process

Question 28

What is wicking?

Answer 28

Hydrophillic polymers create hydrophillic conduits *water diffuses through pores, creates a hydrophillic passage causing water to come through, therein starting the swelling process

Question 29

What is strain recovery?

Answer 29

Particles deform elastically during tablet formation and become interlocked with potential energy. Water infiltration into tablet causes particles to regain original shape.

Question 30

What is heat of interaction? (wetting)

Answer 30

Heat released during particle interaction with water

Question 31

What is the interruption of bonding forces?

Answer 31

Interlocking particles, solid bridges, bonds weakened in aqueous environment (Bridge washed away by water)

Question 32

What is repulsion?

Answer 32

Electrostatic repulsion pushes particles apart

Question 33

What is the in vitro disintegration time for Paracetamol effervescent tablets?

Answer 33

<5

Question 34

What is effervescent disintegration? (Sodium hydrogen carbonate)

Answer 34

Gas generation, of CO2 when put in water, gas forces the tablets to break

Question 35

What is the point of IR?

Answer 35

to increase rate of dsintegration