Orodispersible Tablets: An Overview of Tastemasking and Evaluation Techniques

Over a decade, the demand for development of orodispersible tablets (ODTs) has enormously increased as it has significant impact on the patient compliance. Orodispersible tablets offer an advantage for populations who have difficulty in swallowing. Upon introduction into the mouth, these tablets dissolve or disperse in the mouth in the absence of additional water for easy administration of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Many orally administered active pharmaceutical ingredients elicit bitter taste. Palatability is an extremely important factor in ensuring the likelihood that the recipients will intake the pharmaceuticals. After ODTs dissolve/disperse in the saliva, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in ODTs remains in the oral cavity until it is swallowed. Therefore, taste masking is critically important in the formulation for maximal patient acceptability. This article attempts to present a detailed review regarding methodologies and approaches of taste masking of active pharmaceutical ingredients and also various evaluation techniques.