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What Is the Medicine Tablet Manufacturing Process?

M. Walker
M. Walker

The medicine tablet manufacturing process involves several main steps, including blending or granulation of materials, lubrication, pressing, and film coating. Different medicines will require different tablet manufacturing processes because sometimes adequate homogeneous mixing requires additional steps. Tablets require the proper dosage of the active ingredient as well as proper mixing, which includes evenly distributed ingredients in appropriate amounts.

One of the simplest strategies to make tablets is to blend the ingredients together. Blending processes generally occur when the ingredients are in powder form, and they require machines to mix them at high speeds. If blending techniques are not adequate, granulation processes will be implemented in the medicine’s tablet manufacturing process.

Manufacturers often coat tablets to protect them and improve taste.
Manufacturers often coat tablets to protect them and improve taste.

The two main forms of granulation are wet granulation and dry granulation. During a wet granulation process, the powdered ingredients are combined with a liquid, known as the binder. The binder can be either organic or aqueous and it should avoid inactivating the drug, and should also be carefully measured to ensure the best consistency and granule strength. Once mixed, the granules undergo a sieving process to strain out oversized aggregates, followed by a drying process.

Coating tablets can help to lessen stomach irritation with tablets that take longer to dissolve.
Coating tablets can help to lessen stomach irritation with tablets that take longer to dissolve.

Dry granulation is also frequently used in a tablet manufacturing process, and it involves creating granules using compaction methods. It yields smaller granules than wet granulation, generally costs less, and it is mostly used for materials that react negatively to moisture. After either granulation process, the medicine is lubricated with a powdered form of common fatty acids, such as stearic acid.

Tablets are often coated in a polysaccharide blend to protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
Tablets are often coated in a polysaccharide blend to protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach.

Once the powder or granules have been formed, the materials are compressed into the tablet form in a compacting or pressing machine. This usually involves both a pre-tamping and a compression stage, which are accomplished at high speeds ranging from 50 to 500 milliseconds. Several factors can negatively impact tablet formation, including uneven distribution of weight or powder density, stickiness and lack of lubricants, and poor machinery, which could potentially chip or damage newly formed tablets.

Tablets are often capsule shaped, making them easier to swallow than round pills.
Tablets are often capsule shaped, making them easier to swallow than round pills.

Tablets are also often coated in a polysaccharide blend for protection and improved taste. Not only do coatings protect the drug and lengthen its shelf life, but they also protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach from certain harsher medications because tablets that take longer to dissolve will lessen stomach irritation. Many tablets also contain grooves or markers that enable pill-splitting to occur. Specialized machines are able to divide previously manufactured tablets to vary the dosage in each pill.

Discussion Comments

JessicaLynn

@JaneAir - I prefer coated tablets as well.

Until recently I never thought about all the stuff that is in medicine tablets besides the actual medicine. However, I recently met a lady who is actually allergic to an ingredient used in the binding process of some tablets! A very unfortunate and uncommon allergy to be sure.

JaneAir

Very interesting. It's my personal opinion that all tablet manufacturers should coat their tablets with the polysaccharide blend. The rest of the manufacturing process doesn't affect how easy the tablet is to swallow but the coating does. Not to mention the coating does make the tablet taste a lot better.

I have a really hard time swallowing tablets and the coating helps me a lot. I know there are a lot of other people who have this problem too.

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    • Manufacturers often coat tablets to protect them and improve taste.
      By: Sasajo
      Manufacturers often coat tablets to protect them and improve taste.
    • Coating tablets can help to lessen stomach irritation with tablets that take longer to dissolve.
      By: Artem Furman
      Coating tablets can help to lessen stomach irritation with tablets that take longer to dissolve.
    • Tablets are often coated in a polysaccharide blend to protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
      By: snapgalleria
      Tablets are often coated in a polysaccharide blend to protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
    • Tablets are often capsule shaped, making them easier to swallow than round pills.
      By: JackF
      Tablets are often capsule shaped, making them easier to swallow than round pills.