Types of Tablets in Pharmaceutics: Classification, Examples, and Uses

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Pharmaceutical tablets may be defined as the solid unit dosage form of one or more medicaments with or without suitable excipients and prepared either by molding or by compression.

A tablet comprises a mixture of active substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or compacted from the powder into a solid dose. The compressed tablet is the most popular dosage form in use today. About two-thirds of all drugs currently prescribed are in solid form in half and of these are as compressed tablets.

Table Of Contents
  1. Type of Tablets in Pharmaceutics
  2. MCQs: Types of Tablets
  3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Types of Tablets
  4. 📢 Join Our Pharma Community

Type of Tablets in Pharmaceutics

Modern infographic chart showing the classification of pharmaceutical tablets. It includes categories: administered by orally, used in oral cavity, and used to prepare solutions, with examples for each.
A modern, vertical-flow chart classifying pharmaceutical tablets based on their administration route and use. © ThePharmapedia.com
Flowchart displaying the classification of pharmaceutical tablets into four categories: ingested orally, used in oral cavity, administered by other route, and used to prepare solution, prepared by ThePharmapedia.com.
Classification chart of pharmaceutical tablet types based on their route of administration and usage.
1

Uncoated Tablet

A single layer or more than one layer of formulation that consists of active ingredients and excipients compressed together without any additional coat or cover.

2

Coated Tablet

Tablets that have an additional coating layer added.

Examples: Gums, sugar, plasticizers, and waxes.
3

Dispersible Tablet

Tablets that have film coats or uncoated tablets that form a uniform dispersion when suspended in water.

4

Effervescent Tablet

Uncoated tablets intended to dissolve and disperse when mixed with organic acid or bicarbonate to produce gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 disintegrates the tablet to produce a suspension of powdered material that is readily absorbed.

Ingredients: Active medicament + sodium carbonate / citric acid / tartaric acid.
5

Modified Release Tablet

Coated or uncoated tablets designed to release the active ingredient when the desired activity or condition is reached.

Examples: Enteric-coated, delay-release, and prolonged release.
6

Enteric Coated Tablet

Also called gastro-resistant, these tablets are resistant to acidic gastric juices.

Coating: Polymer materials such as Cellulose acetate phthalate, Cellulose acetate trimellitate, or acrylate polymers.
7

Prolonged Release Tablet

Also called extended-release or sustained-release tablets. Formulated so that the release of active ingredients is controlled over a prolonged period. Special excipients are needed to produce these.

8

Soluble Tablet

Tablets that are dissolved in water before being administered. These may be coated or uncoated.

9

Tablets for Mouth Use

Formulated to release active ingredients when placed in the buccal cavity or mouth area. Used when a patient has difficulty swallowing or when fast release into the bloodstream is required.

  • Buccal tablets

    Placed in between the gingival (gums) and cheek area.

  • Sublingual tablets

    Placed underneath the tongue.

  • Troches & Lozenges

    Placed in the side of a cheek for slow release of medicament absorbed directly into the buccal cavity, bypassing first-pass metabolism.

    Examples: Local anesthetic, antiseptic, antibacterial agent.

  • Dental Cone

    Compressed tablet placed in the cavity of the empty socket after teeth extraction.

10

Implantable Tablets

Tablets that are placed in other areas of the body instead of the mouth (e.g., rectal or vaginal tablets).

11

Chewable Tablet

Placed into the mouth, chewed, and finally swallowed. Has no requirement for disintegration agents.

12

Hypodermic Tablet

Tablet is dissolved with sterile water and administered by parenteral route/injection.

✅

Advantages of Tablets

  • Ease and convenience of use.
  • Bitter tasting drugs can be masked with coated tablets.
  • Unstable API can be administered through coated tablets.
  • Modified release of active ingredients ensures patient’s compliance and increases the therapeutic effect.
  • Inexpensive form of dosage.
  • Stability of API: Most stable with respect to physical, chemical and microbiological attributes.
  • Cheapest oral dosage form, easy to handle, use and carry out with attractive and elegant appearance.
  • Cheap, easy to swallow and production does not require any additional processing steps.
  • Low manufacturing cost as compared to other solid dosage forms and large-scale production is possible.
  • An unpleasant taste can be masked by sugar coating.
  • Packing and production is cheap and does not require more space for storage.
⚠️

Disadvantages of Tablets

  • The onset of action of drugs is less compared with the direct routes such as IV.
  • Smaller and geriatric patients may find it harder to swallow tablets.
  • Drugs which are amorphous and low-density character are difficult to compress into a tablet.
  • Hygroscopic drugs are not suitable for compressed tablets.
  • Drugs with low or poor water solubility, slow dissolution, high absorbance in GI tract may be difficult to formulate.
  • Sensitive to oxygen drugs may require special coating.

MCQs: Types of Tablets

Test your knowledge! Select an answer to see immediate feedback.

1. What is a basic characteristic of an uncoated tablet?
2. Which type of tablet has an additional coating layer such as gums, sugar, or waxes?
3. What is the primary feature of dispersible tablets?
4. Which ingredients are typically used in effervescent tablets?
5. What distinguishes a modified release tablet?
6. Which coating makes a tablet resistant to stomach acid?
7. Which type of tablet provides slow and controlled release of the drug?
8. Which type of tablet is intended to dissolve in water before administration?
9. What is the primary purpose of buccal and sublingual tablets?
10. Which tablet is compressed and placed in the cavity of the socket after teeth extraction?
11. What characterizes chewable tablets?
12. Which advantage is associated with tablet dosage form?
13. What is a major disadvantage of tablets?
14. Which type of tablet is designed for use in the buccal cavity or mouth area for rapid absorption?
15. Which statement about hypodermic tablets is true?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Types of Tablets

What is a pharmaceutical tablet?

A pharmaceutical tablet is a solid unit dosage form containing one or more medicaments with or without suitable excipients, prepared by molding or compression.

What distinguishes an uncoated tablet from a coated tablet?

An uncoated tablet consists of compressed active ingredients and excipients without any coating, while a coated tablet has an additional layer such as sugar, gum, or polymers.

What is the function of an enteric-coated tablet?

Enteric-coated tablets resist acidic gastric juices and dissolve in the intestine, protecting the drug and preventing stomach irritation.

Define effervescent tablets and state their composition.

Effervescent tablets are uncoated tablets that dissolve with organic acid or bicarbonate to release CO2 and produce a suspension; they contain active medicament plus sodium carbonate and citric or tartaric acid.

What are modified release tablets?

Modified release tablets are designed to release active ingredients at a specific site or time, including delayed-release, prolonged-release, or enteric-coated tablets.

Why are buccal and sublingual tablets used?

They are formulated to release drugs in the mouth for rapid absorption, bypassing first-pass metabolism, useful in patients who have difficulty swallowing.

What is the difference between chewable tablets and soluble tablets?

Chewable tablets are meant to be chewed and swallowed without disintegration agents, while soluble tablets dissolve in water before administration.

What are implantable tablets?

IDDSs are bioengineering devices surgically placed inside the patient’s tissues to avoid first-pass metabolism and reduce the systemic toxicity of the drug by eluting the therapeutic payload in the vicinity of the target tissues.

List some advantages of tablets as a dosage form.

Easy to use, mask unpleasant tastes by coating, stable, cost-effective, and suitable for controlled drug release.

What are common disadvantages of tablets?

Slower onset than IV administration, swallowing difficulty for some patients, and challenges in compressing hygroscopic or poorly soluble drugs.

What role do excipients play in tablet formulation?

Excipients aid in processing, stability, bioavailability, and mask taste or assist in modified release.

What is a dental cone?

A compressed tablet placed in the socket after tooth extraction to aid healing.

What is a hypodermic tablet?

A tablet dissolved in sterile water for parenteral (injection) administration.

Why are sugar-coated tablets preferred for bitter drugs?

They mask the unpleasant taste and improve patient compliance.

What is the importance of the polymer coating in enteric tablets?

It protects the drug from stomach acid and ensures release in the intestine.

Also Read….

Sugar Coating of tablets: Pharmaceutics

Defect of Sugar-coating tablet

Processing of Pharmaceutical Tablets

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