Chewable tablet | Dispersible tablet | Orodispersible tablet | Multiparticulate formulation | Oral films |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advantages | ||||
• Lighter than liquids requiring less space during transportation | • Lighter than liquids requiring less space during transportation | • Lighter than liquids requiring less space during transportation | • Lighter than liquids requiring less space during transportation | • Lighter than liquids requiring less space during transportation |
• Superior shelf-life to liquids | • Superior shelf-life to liquids | • Superior shelf-life to liquids | • Superior shelf-life to liquids | • Superior shelf-life to liquids |
• Use similar excipients to conventional tablets, i.e. require no special manufacturing expertise | • Use similar excipients to conventional tablets, i.e. require no special manufacturing expertise | • Use similar excipients to conventional tablets, i.e. require no special manufacturing expertise | • Use similar excipients to conventional tablets, i.e. require no special manufacturing expertise |  |
• Can be used for large doses as tablet size is not limited by swallowability | • Can be used for large doses as tablet size is not limited by swallowability |  |  |  |
• Dosing is simpler than for liquid formulations or powders, which require doses to be measured before reconstitution |  | • Dosing is simpler than for liquid formulations or powders, which require doses to be measured before reconstitution |  |  |
 | • Dose adjustment is possible following dispersion by taking a measured portion of the dispersed material |  | • Offer dose flexibility provided that there is a suitable device to accurately count the units required | • Offer dose flexibility provided that there is suitable markings/ scoring to allow accurate division |
 |  |  | • Coatings can be applied to provide modified release formulations |  |
 |  |  | • Multiple drugs can easily be combined in a variety of ratios to provide flexible dosing in combination therapy |  |
Disadvantages | ||||
• Potential palatability issues | • Potential palatability issues | • Potential palatability issues | • Potential palatability issues | • Potential palatability issues |
• Often softer and therefore more fragile than conventional tablets and therefore need to be handled with care | • Often softer and therefore more fragile than conventional tablets and therefore need to be handled with care | • Often softer and therefore more fragile than conventional tablets and therefore need to be handled with care |  | • Often softer and therefore more fragile than conventional tablets and therefore need to be handled with care |
 | • They are hygroscopic and often need managed storage conditions or desiccants in packaging | • They are hygroscopic and often need managed storage conditions or desiccants in packaging |  | • They are hygroscopic and often need managed storage conditions or desiccants in packaging |
• May require a clean water source (or alternative solvent) to facilitate swallowing | • Require a clean water source (or alternative solvent) to facilitate swallowing | • Require a clean water source (a typical tablet needs 5 to 10 ml of water to aid swallowing) and caregivers must spend time waiting for the tablet to dissolve | • Require a clean water source (or alternative solvent) to facilitate swallowing | • Require a clean water source (or alternative solvent) to facilitate swallowing |
• Only suitable for children able to chew and cannot be used in the youngest population |  |  | • Need to be contained in a unit system (usually a capsule or sachet) which involves additional manufacturing steps | • Only suitable for potent drugs as the maximum loading (amount of drug/film) is low |
• Insufficient chewing may still lead to a risk of choking or aspiration of large particles |  |  | • Additional steps in administration (opening the capsule/sachets) to transfer to the patient | • Require specialised manufacturing knowledge and facilities |