Formulation, Manufacturing Techniques, and Evaluation of Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Abstract

The oral route of drug administration is widely considered the most preferred method due to its safety, ease of administration, cost-effectiveness, and high level of patient acceptance. Despite these advantages, conventional oral dosage forms may pose swallowing difficulties, particularly in pediatric, geriatric, and dysphagic patients, leading to poor compliance. To address these challenges, orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) have emerged as a novel and patient-friendly dosage form. ODTs are designed to disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity and dissolve in saliva without the need for water, thereby facilitating ease of administration. This feature makes them particularly suitable for patients experiencing conditions such as motion sickness, frequent vomiting, and neurological disorders. Additionally, ODTs can enhance the onset of action for drugs that are readily absorbed through the oral mucosa. The increasing demand for such advanced drug delivery systems has led to the development of various formulation strategies and manufacturing techniques. This review provides an overview of the ideal properties, benefits and limitations, formulation components, preparation methods, and evaluation parameters of ODTs. Furthermore, it highlights commercially available products and recent advancements in this field, along with future perspectives in oral drug delivery technology.