Swallowing medication has always been a major problem among 50% of the
population, especially in cases of elderly and children due to a fear of choking,
resulting to an inappropriate medication adherence and in turn to non-compliance of
dosage regimen. Swallowing problems are also seen in adult people who are bed-ridden
or those who are busy in working or travelling, which makes them to forget or miss
their doses as it requires water to swallow. This issue can be overcome by using
FDDFs (Fast Dissolving/Disintegrating Dosage Forms), which have gained an
immense popularity worldwide and a specific position in the field of novel drug
delivery systems due to their easier administration and excellent palatability. FDDF has
characteristics of both solid as well as liquid dosage form, as during storage and before
administration it is solid in nature, a stability factor and as soon as it is placed in the
mouth or beneath the tongue it rapidly gets transformed into its liquid form in the
presence of saliva within a few seconds of its administration. The buccal mucosa is
well supplied with both vascular and lymphatic systems and most importantly
avoidance of intestinal or hepatic metabolism. The site and extent of absorption
through buccal cavity are the important factors to be considered in developing FDDFs.
The other factors like meta-bolising enzyme transporters involved, bioavailability and
physicochemical properties of the drug are also important properties to be considered
in developing FDDFs. FDDFs, as delivery systems, are widely used in treatment of
allergies or emergency conditions which require a rapid therapeutic effect of the drug,
e.g. sublingual tablet of nitroglycerin in case of angina attack. The disintegration time
is also the important factor for classifying a drug product as FDDF, as generally, it
is below 60 s in case of FDDF. Several FDDF drug products belonging to Fast Dissolving/Disintegrating tablets (FDTs), Fast Dissolving/Disintegrating Oral Films
(FDOFs) have been introduced in the market as a result of an increased patient
demands and their market presence is expected to expand in the forthcoming years.
Keywords: Absorption, Bioavailability, Bioequivalence, Compliance, Clinical,
Dysphagia, Film, Geriatric, ODT, Paediatric, Psychotic, Quality of life, Tablet.
