The following are some of the excipients which are generally required in the formulation of tablets:
Diluents
Granulating agents
Binding agents
Disintegrating agents
Lubricants ,Glidant , Anti adherents
Absorbents
Colouring agents , flavouring agents and sweetening agents
1 Diluent:
Diluent is added when medicament is small quantity and to improve flow property and cohesiveness.
Eg. lactose, sucrose, sodium chloride, dextrose and starch, mannitol , sorbitol ,dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate and calcium sulphate dihydrate .
2.Granulating agents
A granulating agent provided proper moisture to convert the fine powder into a damp mass which after passing through a sieve of suitable number forms of granules.
Eg.water , alcohol , mucilage of starch , mucilage of acacia , mucilage of tragacanth , gelatin solution , iso-propyl alcohol , acetone etc.
3 Binding agents: Used in granulation to provide proper binding to granules.
E.g. Gum acacia, gum tragacanth, gelatin, sucrose MC etc.
4 Disintigrating agents:
Disintegrants are added to the formulation as it breaks the dosage form into smaller particles when it comes in contact with the liquid, these smaller fragments have greater surface area which will increase the dissolution of the drug
They act by
i. Swelling: potato ,maize starch, Methyl cellulose etc
ii. By producing effervescence: Sodium bicarbonate, citric and tartaric acid.
iii. By melting at body temperature: cocabutter
5 Lubricants ,Glidant , Anti adherents :
Lubricants It will reduce interparticular friction during ejection of tablet.
E.g. Lubrcants: talc, Mg stearate, Ca stearate etc
Glidants: It will improve flow property of granules from hopper to die.
Eg.Na Cl, Mg stearate. Boric acid etc
Anti adherents: They prevent sticking of the material eg .liquid paraffin, stearic acid etc.
6Adsorbing agents: These substances are used to adsorb volatile oils, liquid extracts and tinctures etc. which are included in the formulations.
E.g. Mg carbonate, kaolin and starch.
7 Colour flavour and sweetening agents are added to improve patient compliance.
E.g. approved FD and C dyes, volatile oils and saccharin respectively