Tablets Production
There are a large number of different tablet forms but in general they contain medicine, filler, binder, desintegrant, glider, lubricant and optionally colour and flavour. Tablets are generally produced by first mixing of the ingredients followed by subjecting the mixture to a high pressure (compression).
There are two main methods to produce a tablet:
- direct compression and
- granulation
In the direct compression method, the tablets are compressed directly after mixing of the ingredients.
This has the advantage of being quicker and cheaper but it has the disadvantage of some dust formation. In the granulation method, the ingredients are granulated first by adding a small amount of water to 'glue' the ingredients together, the mixture is compressed after drying. The compression behaviour of lactose, which determines the strength of the tablet, is affected by the particle size distribution of the lactose crystals and by the homogeneity of the crystal.
Direct compression demands the use of excipients with strictly defined properties. Sheffield™ Pharma Ingredients created an excipient based on anhydrous lactose, specifically to meet the requirements of the direct compaction process.