Mouth dissolving tablets- A unique dosage form curtailed for special purpose: a review

The concept of mouth dissolving tablets known as MDTs has emerged with an objective to improve patient's compliance.Methods to improve patient's compliance have always attracted scientists towards the development of fancy oral drug delivery systems.Among them, mouth dissolving drug delivery systems (MDDDS) have obtained an important position in the market by overcoming previously encountered administration problems and contributing to extension of patent life.These dosage forms rapidly disintegrate in contact with saliva even within <60 seconds, an attribute that makes them highly attractive for paediatric, geriatric, bedridden patients and for active patients who are busy and in travelling may not have access to water.This special dosage form has some prerequisite criteria for formulation and this also involves the use of special techniques for large scale industrial production.The aim of this article is to review the advantages and disadvantages of MDTs, common excipients used in the formulation especially highlighting the use of superdisintegrating agents and taste masking agents in formulation and finally the popular methods used to produce large scale tablets for commercial purpose.