Fast Melting Nutritional Supplement Tablets

Fast Melting Nutritional Supplement Tablets – Finally a solution for those who don’t like swallowing pills

It’s a well known fact that many people just don’t like to swallow pills.  Whether the pills are tablets, capsules or caplets, many have the same fear… the pill may get caught in their throat or they might gag when trying to swallow it.  The term “horse pill” was even coined as a phrase that became a popular description of large pills that one has trouble swallowing.  Some individuals even have physical issues that even make it difficult for them to swallow pills, commonly known as dysphagia.  In addition, there are other large groups of the population, like children and the elderly that either shouldn’t be swallowing pills or also have great difficulty taking them.  Collectively, these groups comprise millions of people and a large percentage of the population who share this same problem.  With a problem this huge, it was inevitable that science had to come up with a solution.

Recent developments in technology by the pharmaceutical sector have provided alternatives to traditional dose tablets and capsules that offer solutions for millions of people who don’t like or have trouble swallowing pills.  These technologies are known as Oral Disintegrating Tablets, or ODTs.  They are also referred as Fast Melting Tablets (FMTs) or Fast Dissolving Tablets (FDTs).  We will call them ODTs for this article.  An ODT is defined as a solid dosage form containing medicinal substances or nutrients that disintegrates and dissolves in the mouth (either on or beneath the tongue, or in the buccal cavity) without the use of water in less than 60 seconds.  A major advantage of the ODT formulation is that it combines the advantages of both liquid and solid dose formulations, while also offering advantages over both.  It provides the handling convenience of a tablet, the ease of swallowing of a liquid, and even more accurate dosing than liquids.  In basic words, these ODT products just melt in your mouth.

Recent market studies indicate that more than half the patient population prefers ODTs to other dosage forms1, and most consumers would ask their doctors for ODTs (70%), purchase ODTs (70%), or prefer ODTs to regular tablets or liquids (>80%)2.  These responses may, in part, be attributed to known ODT advantages such as ease of administration, ease of swallowing, pleasant taste, and the availability of several flavors3,4.  Dozens of ODT products have been launched worldwide over the past decade, with many new introductions within just the last few years.  As a result, these ODT products are becoming more popular in the marketplace. 

Here are some of the advantages of ODT technology

• Tablets dissolve very rapidly in the mouth
• Technology provides rapid delivery of active ingredients
• Tablets dissolve with a smooth mouth feel
• Customers/patients report improved product compliance
• Provide an alternative method to administer tablets
  

Despite the advantages and popularity of ODTs, there are some limitations to the technology which restrict it from being used in many applications.  If you are trying to deliver a very large dose, or if the material being delivered has a very bitter or foul taste, an ODT may not be an option.  Some companies have been able to alleviate the bitterness of a drug or nutrient with a process called tastemasking , where the problem ingredient is coated with sugars, fat or cellulose to cover up its bad taste.  The tastemasked ingredient may then be use in the ODT formulation.  Another challenge with the ODT technology is the difficulty in product formulation and manufacturing that arises with many of the formulas.  It requires a strong expertise in pharmaceutical science formulation, and a technical expertise in precision manufacturing to master the production of ODTs.  Even after the tablet is produced it must be carefully handled and packaged due to the fact that these tablets are fragile and are more friable (breakable) than traditional tablets.  As a result, many of the ODTs are frequently packaged in blister packaging to protect the tablets from being damaged.

As a pharmacologist and an expert in pharmaceutical science formulation, I was often exposed to ODT technology in the pharmaceutical sector.  Business needs drove the use of this technology development and the commercialization of new products, such as the need for expanded product lines, improved product lifecycle management, extended patent life and marketing advantages.  During my tenure, I often thought to myself, “what a great technology this would be for the nutritional supplement sector, where individuals commonly take several large pills on a daily basis as part of their health regimen”.  I began a search, but could not locate a company in the nutritional sector with the technical expertise to formulate and manufacture such products.  This discovery and the desire to solve a common problem many people face prompted the creation of Solara, Inc. in Miami, FL, a company with the know-how to formulate and manufacture ODT formulations for the nutritional/nutraceutical sector.  We have been able to develop some of the most popular nutritional supplements in an ODT format, with great performance, and best of all great taste.  Finally a solution for those who don’t like swallowing pills!  Please check these nutritional ODT products out at www.ezmelts.com .

References

1. K. Deepak, "Orally Disintegrating Tablets," Tablets and Capsules 7 , 30–35 (2004).
2. D. Brown, "Orally Disintegrating Tablets: Taste Over Speed," Drug Deliv. Technol. 3 (6), 58–61 (2001).
3. H. Seager, "Drug Delivery Products and the Zydis Fast-Dissolving Dosage form," J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 50 (4), 375–382 (1998).
4. G. Carnaby-Mann; M. Crary; Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.131:970-975 (2005)