Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/571156
W While tablets and capsules have long been the go-to option, a poll conducted last year shows many people have difficulty swallowing them. That can lead to poor compliance. This arti- cle describes how alternatives to traditional solid dosage forms can improve compliance and provide companies with a competi- tive advantage. hen delivering medicines or dietary supplements via the oral route, it's no surprise that conventional tablets and capsules are the most common approach. They're generally practical and cost-efficient. But they're not always optimal. In a recent survey, a majority of US respondents expressed misgivings about the traditional forms [1]. 32 September 2015 Tablets & Capsules compliance The advantages of alternative solid dosage forms Thomas Hein Hermes Pharma The survey, which queried 1,000 people in the USA and another 1,000 in Germany, explored their acceptance of conventional forms and alternative forms, including effer- vescent tablets, chewable tablets, lozenges, orally disinte- grating granules (ODGs), and drink mixes. The most striking result from the US respondents was that half had difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules. As a result, 23 percent said they broke up their tablets/capsules before ingesting them; 14 percent crushed them and dis- solved them in water; and 10 percent chewed them. All these actions can compromise the effectiveness of the prod- uct. More worryingly, 10 percent completely abstained from taking their medication. See Figure 1. The responses