ORAL UNIT DOSAGE
FORMS
FARAH ARSHAD
3RD PROFF MORNING ( ROLL 22)
DISPENSING AND COMMUNITY PHARMACY
INTRODUCTION
• Oral unit dosage forms are solid pharmaceutical preparations designed to deliver a single,
accurate dose of a drug when taken by mouth. Each unit contains a pre-measured
quantity of active ingredient, ensuring dose uniformity, convenience, stability, and patient
compliance. These dosage forms are widely used because they are easy to administer,
economical, and suitable for large-scale manufacturing. Common examples include tablets,
capsules, pills, lozenges, and sachets.
TYPES OF ORAL UNIT DOSAGE FORMS
• Types of Oral Unit Dosage Forms
• Tablets
• Capsules
• Pills
• Powders (Unit Dose)
• Sachets and Cachets
• Granules
• Lozenges and Troches
• Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs)
• Chewable Dosage Forms
• Sublingual and Buccal Dosage Forms
TABLETS
Tablets as an Oral Unit Dosage FormTablets are solid oral unit
dosage forms prepared by compression or molding, each
containing a single, accurate dose of drug with suitable
excipients. They are stable, economical, easy to administer, and
widely used. Tablets may be swallowed, chewed, or dissolved and
can be formulated for immediate or modified drug release.
FORMULATION OF TABLETS
• Formulation of Tablets
• Tablet formulation involves combining the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with suitable excipients to produce tablets of acceptable
strength, stability, and bioavailability. The main components include:
• Diluent – adds bulk (e.g., lactose, starch)
• Binder – provides cohesiveness (e.g., starch paste, PVP)
• Disintegrant – helps tablet break up after ingestion (e.g., starch, croscarmellose sodium)
• Lubricant – reduces friction during compression (e.g., magnesium stearate)
• Glidant – improves powder flow (e.g., talc)
• Coloring/Flavoring agents – improve appearance and acceptability
• Tablets are commonly prepared by direct compression, wet granulation, or dry granulation, depending on the properties of the drug and
excipients.
DIRECT COMPRESSION METHOD
• Direct Compression
• Direct compression is a simple method in which the drug and excipients are blended and
directly compressed into tablets without granulation. It requires powders with good
flowability and compressibility. This method is fast, economical, and suitable for moisture-
and heat-sensitive drugs.
WET GRANULATION METHOD
• Wet Granulation
• Wet granulation involves mixing the drug with excipients and a binder solution to form a
wet mass, which is then granulated, dried, and compressed into tablets. It improves flow
properties and content uniformity and is widely used for drugs with poor compressibility.
DRY GRANULTION METHOD
• Dry Granulation
• Dry granulation is used when the drug is sensitive to moisture or heat. In this method,
powders are compressed into slugs or ribbons, then milled into granules and
recompressed into tablets. It improves flow and compression characteristics without
using liquid binders
EXAMPLES OF TABLETS AS UNIT DOSAGE FORMS
• Examples of Tablets as Oral Unit Dosage Forms
• Paracetamol tablets
• Aspirin tablets
• Ibuprofen tablets
• Metformin tablets
• Amoxicillin tablets
• Vitamin C tablets
• Antacid tablets
• Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets
CAPSULES
• Capsules as an Oral Unit Dosage Form
• Capsules are solid oral unit dosage forms in which the drug is enclosed in a gelatin or non-gelatin shell. Each
capsule contains a pre-measured dose of the active ingredient, ensuring accurate and convenient administration.
• Key points:
• Capsules can be hard (filled with powders or granules) or soft (filled with liquids or oils).
• They mask unpleasant taste or odor of drugs.
• Allow rapid or controlled release depending on the formulation.
• Easy to swallow and portable, making them popular among patients.
• Examples: Amoxicillin capsules, Omeprazole capsules, Vitamin E soft gelatin capsules
FORMULATION METHOD OF CAPSULES
• Formulation Method of Capsules
• The formulation of capsules involves preparing the drug and excipients and then
encapsulating them in gelatin or non-gelatin shells. The method depends on the type of
capsule:
HARD GELATIN CAPSULES
• Hard Gelatin Capsules
• Step 1: Selection of drug and excipients (diluents, lubricants, glidants).
• Step 2: Blend powders uniformly.
• Step 3: Fill the powder or granules into the body of the capsule using manual or
automatic machines.
• Step 4: Cap the body, polish, inspect, and pack.
SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES
• 2. Soft Gelatin Capsules
• Step 1: Prepare the liquid or semi-solid drug with any required excipients (solvents,
stabilizers, oils).
• Step 2: Prepare soft gelatin mass.
• Step 3: Fill and seal the gelatin shell using rotary die or plate process in a single
operation.
• Step 4: Dry, polish, inspect, and pack.
PILLS
• Pills
• Description: Small, solid, usually spherical or ovoid preparations containing one or more drugs.
• Composition: Drug + diluent + binder + sometimes coating.
• Formulation Method: Drug and excipients are mixed into a paste or mass, rolled into small balls, and
sometimes coated to mask taste or improve stability.
• Advantages: Easy to handle and administer; allows combination of drugs.
• Disadvantages: Less commonly used today; difficult to manufacture uniformly; less stable than tablets.
• Examples: Historically used for herbal formulations; rarely used
POWDERS
• Powders (Unit Dose)
• Description: Finely divided drugs presented in pre-measured single doses.
• Composition: Drug + diluents (like lactose) + flavoring agents (if required).
• Formulation Method: Weighing, blending, and filling into sachets, envelopes, or capsules.
• Advantages: Easy to swallow, flexible dosing, rapid onset of action.
• Disadvantages: Hygroscopic drugs may absorb moisture; poor taste; not suitable for drugs
needing controlled release.
• Examples: Oral rehydration salts, antacids (e.g., aluminum hydroxide + magnesium hydroxide).
GRANULES
• Granules
• Description: Aggregated particles of powder in pre-measured doses.
• Composition: Drug + diluents + binders + lubricants.
• Formulation Method:
• Wet granulation: Mixing powders with binder solution, forming wet mass, drying, and compressing.
• Dry granulation: Compressing powders into slugs, then milling into granules.
• Advantages: Improved flow and compressibility, less dust, better stability.
• Disadvantages: Additional processing steps, longer manufacturing time.
• Examples: Antibiotic granules (amoxicillin), antacid granules.
LOZENGES AND TROCHES
• Lozenges and Troches
• Description: Solid preparations that dissolve slowly in the mouth for local or systemic effect.
• Composition: Drug + base (sugar, glycerinated gelatin, PEG) + flavoring/coloring agents.
• Formulation Method: Drug mixed with base, poured into molds, cooled, and sometimes
coated.
• Advantages: Sustained release in oral cavity; masks bitter taste.
• Disadvantages: Slow onset for systemic effect; sugar content may not be suitable for diabetics.
• Examples: Cough lozenges, analgesic troches.
ORALLY DISINTEGRATED TABLETS
• Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs)
• Description: Tablets that disintegrate rapidly in the mouth without water.
• Composition: Drug + superdisintegrants (croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone) + fillers + flavors.
• Formulation Method: Direct compression or molding using excipients that promote fast disintegration.
• Advantages: Ideal for children, elderly, or patients with swallowing difficulties; fast onset.
• Disadvantages: Hygroscopic drugs may affect stability; handling can be difficult.
• Examples: Ondansetron ODT, Loratadine ODT.
MEDICATED GUMMIES
• Medicated Chews / Gummies
• Description: Soft, chewable preparations often for children or vitamins.
• Composition: Drug + gelatin or pectin + sugar or sweeteners + flavors.
• Formulation Method: Mixing drug with gelatin/pectin base, molding into shapes, then cooling
or drying.
• Advantages: Attractive for children; masks unpleasant taste; easy to administer.
• Disadvantages: Sugar content may be high; limited drug load.
• Examples: Multivitamin gummies, iron chews.
SACHET
• 9. Sachets
• Description: Pre-measured single-dose powder or granule packets.
• Composition: Drug + diluents + flavoring agents if needed.
• Formulation Method: Blending and filling into pre-formed packets or envelopes, then sealed.
• Advantages: Convenient, accurate dosing; portable.
• Disadvantages: Hygroscopic drugs may need moisture-proof packaging.
• Examples: Oral rehydration salts, powdered antibiotics.
IMPORTANCE OF ORAL UNIT DOSOGE FORMS
• Oral unit dosage forms are widely used in pharmacy and medicine because they offer several
advantages for patients, healthcare providers, and manufacturers:
• Accurate Dosing – Each unit contains a pre-measured dose, ensuring precise and consistent
drug intake.
• Convenience and Compliance – Easy to administer, carry, and store, improving patient
adherence.
• Stability – Solid dosage forms are chemically and microbiologically stable, often with a longer
shelf life than liquids.
• Cost-Effective – Economical to manufacture and package, suitable for mass production.
CONTINUE......
• Taste and Odor Masking – Coatings or encapsulation can mask unpleasant taste or odor of drugs.
• Variety of Release Profiles – Can be formulated for immediate, delayed, or sustained release, optimizing
therapy.
• Reduced Contamination Risk – Single-unit packaging reduces handling and risk of contamination.
• Ease of Transport and Storage – Compact and lightweight, suitable for distribution and storage.
• Versatility – Suitable for a wide range of drugs, including herbal, synthetic, and combination drugs.
• Rapid or Targeted Action – Certain forms (e.g., sublingual, buccal) provide faster onset or bypass first-
pass metabolism.
• In short, oral unit dosage forms enhance safety, efficacy, and patient convenience, making them the most
commonly used form of medication worldwide.
CONCLUSION
• Oral unit dosage forms provide accurate dosing.
• Ensure safety and stability of the drug.
• Offer convenience and patient compliance.
• Variety of forms allows flexible therapy.
• Choosing the right form ensures optimal drug delivery.
• Overall: Safe, effective, and easy-to-use medications.