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40 May 2014 Tablets & Capsules percent, and the third 3 percent. Figure 6 compares the dissolution times of each and shows that a 1 per- cent increase in lubricant prolongs tablet disintegration by 50 seconds. Conclusion The three examples discussed here do not appear in compendial mono- graphs, specifications, or technical catalogs. Nevertheless, these recom- mendations and suggestions are a normal part of the communication between excipient manufacturers and those who manufacture finished drug products. Again, never hesitate to ask your excipient suppliers for additional information. They know in detail the characteristics and properties of their excipients and can tell you what per- formance to expect from a given for- mulation. That, too, is information that does not appear in regulatory documents, such as compendial monographs and specifications. T&C Valdemir Passos is vice president of tech- nical services at Blanver, 1515 South Federal Highway, Suite 204, Boca Raton, FL 33432. Tel. 561 416 5513, ext. 105. E-mail: passos@blanver.com. Table 2 Constituents and use levels in methyldopa tablets compared in Figure 5 Tablet 1 Tablet 2 % % Methyldopa 38.47 38.47 Spray-dried lactose 26.26 28.26 Microcrystalline cellulose 200 29.77 29.77 PVP K-30 3.00 1.50 Croscarmellose sodium 1.00 1.00 Magnesium stearate 1.00 1.00 Total 100.00 100.00 * All with average tablet weight of 650 milligrams and hardness of 6 kilopascal; punch size of 13.0 millimeters (round) Table 3 Constituents and use levels in hydrochlorotiazide tablets compared in Figure 6 Tablet 1 Tablet 2 Tablet 3 % % % Hydrochlorotiazide 15.00 15.00 15.00 Di-calcium phosphate 42.50 42.00 41.50 Croscarmellose sodium 0.25 0.25 0.25 Lactose 41.25 40.75 40.25 Magnesium stearate 1.00 2.00 3.00 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 * All with average tablet weight of 500 milligrams (non-commercial dosage) and hardness of 8.5 kilopascal; punch size of 10.0 millimeters (round) Figure 6 Comparison of dissolution times of hydrochlorotiazide tablets containing 1 percent magnesium stearate, 2 percent, or 3 percent 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 Magnesium stearate (%) Time (sec) 2 3 j-EOE_36-41_Masters 5/14/14 10:18 AM Page 40