Tablets

Question 1

Tablets are the most popular dosage forms. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

Oral route is convenient and a safe way of drug administration. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

Tablets have better physical and chemical stability than liquid dosage forms. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 3

TRUE

Question 4

Tablets provide accurate dosing of a drug (fixed dose per tablet). TRUE or FALSE

Answer 4

TRUE

Question 5

Tablets ate convenient to handle and use (patient preference). TRUE or FALSE

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

Production procedures of tablets are quality controlled. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 6

TRUE

Question 7

Tablets can be produced on a large scale with low cost. (manufacturer’s consideration). TRUE or FALSE

Answer 7

TRUE

Question 8

State 5 advantages of tablets as a dosage form

Answer 8

• Oral route is convenient
• Better physical and chemical stability than liquid dosage forms
• Accurate dosing of the drug (fixed dose per tablet)
• Convenient to handle
• Mass production, low costs

Question 9

Tablets usually contain excipients in addition to

the active ingredients. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 9

TRUE

Question 10

In order for drug to be absorbed, it must first be dissolved. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 10

TRUE

Question 11

Tablets can be administered by ?

Answer 11

• Swallowing whole
• Swallowing upon chewing
• Retaining in mouth (therefore avoids acidic environment of stomach);
• Buccal (in the cheek)- designed to release drug slowly
• Sublingual (under the tongue) - designed for fast action
• Dissolve in water before administration

Question 12

State 3 disadvantages of tablets as a dosage form

Answer 12

1) Poor bioavailabilty of poorly water-soluble or poorly absorbable drugs
2) Difficult to swallow for some patients
3) Some drugs may irritate G.I tract

Question 13

STATEMENT: When designing tablet formulations, you need to consider what features you want the tablet to have hence what excipients to use

Answer 13

Learn!

Question 14

State some general attributes of a good tablet

Answer 14

• Should have sufficient mechanical strength to survive transport and handling
• Weight and size should be consistent
• Drug should be released in controlled, reproducible way
• Biocompatible; non-toxic excipients, contaminants and microorganisms
• Physically, Chemically and biologically stable4

Question 15

How many stages are in tablet formation, state and describe them.

Answer 15

3 stages

1) FILLING STAGE -Powder fills the die by gravity or centrifugal force
2) COMPRESSION STAGE -Upper punch lowers into the die and powder is compressed; then upper punch moves up
3) EJECTION STAGE -Lower punch moves up to reject the tablet

Question 16

Define ‘Powder Compression’

Answer 16

Reduction of powder volume due to application of force

Question 17

Define ‘Powder Compaction’

Answer 17

The formation of a porous specimen of defined geometry upon powder compression

Question 18

STATEMENT Tablets are formed by forcing particles into close proximity to each other by powder compaction. Therefore, particles cohere into a POROUS solid of defined shape

Answer 18

LEARN!

Question 19

State 2 instruments used in tablet formation

Answer 19

1) Single punch tablet press

2) Rotary tablet presses

Question 20

A single punch tablet press consists of; One die and One pair of punches (upper and lower). TRUE or FALSE

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

In a single punch tablet press, the ‘hopper shoe’ moves to and from the die by ?

Answer 21

Translational or Rotational movement

Question 22

The tablet weight (amount of material filled into the die) is controlled by the position of the upper or lower punch ?

Answer 22

Position of Lower punch

Question 23

In a single punch tablet press, does the upper or lower punch remain stationary during compaction ?

Answer 23

Lower

Question 24

About how many tablets can be formed per min using a single punch tablet press

Answer 24

About 200 tablets

Question 25

State one difference between a Single punch tablet press and a Rotary tablet press

Answer 25

Single punch tablet press consists of ONE die and ONE set of punches
WHILST, Rotary tablet presses consist of MY DIE (on the die table) and MANY PAIRS OF PUNCHES

Question 26

In a Rotary tablet press, the die tablet and punches rotate together, therefore the same punches always work with the same die. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 26

TRUE

Question 27

Which tablet press is more suitable for mass production of tablets and why ?

Answer 27

Rotary tablet press as about 10,000 tablets is formed per min compared with 200 tablets per min achieved in single punch tablet press.