the examples below provide a number of fast dissolving tablets formed according to the process of the invention . the characteristics of the tablets were determined as follows : hardness or crushing strength ( pharmatest tablet hardness tester , ptb 411e , germany ) the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag . 37 . 25 g of mannitol 200 , 5 g of explotab , 5 g of calcium silicate and 2 . 5 g of sodium diclofenac uncoated . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 25 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press ( an 8 station rotary tablet press operating at a speed of 14 tablets per minute ) fitted with 15 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 15 kn . tablets were produced at a target tablet weight was 500 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 517 mg , a hardness of 54 newtons and a disintegration time of 1 minute and 20 seconds . example 1 was repeated using eudragit e coated sodium diclofenac prepared by spray drying a solution of sodium diclofenac and eudragit e in ethylacetate ( as described below in example 8 ). the formula used was adjusted to keep the content of diclofenac at 25 mg / 500 mg tablet weight . 10 g of eudragit e coated sodium diclofenac was used instead of 2 . 5 g of sodium diclofenac and was blended with 29 . 75 g of mannitol 200 , 5 g of explotab and 5 g of calcium silicate . after 5 minute blending , 0 . 25 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . tablets were produced at a compression force of 12 kn and showed a hardness of 72 newtons and a disintegration time of 40 seconds . average tablet weight was 420 mg . placebo fddts were manufactured using a blend containing 44 . 75 g of mannitol 200 , 5 g of anhydrous citric acid and 0 . 25 g of magnesium stearate . the blend was prepared as in example 1 and tablets were produced at a compression force of 10 kn . tablets produced had an average weight of 520 mg and showed a hardness of 56 newtons and a disintegration time of 16 seconds . example 3 was repeated using sodium citrate instead of anhydrous citric acid . the tablets produced had an average weight of 512 mg and showed a hardness of 46 newtons and a disintegration time of 9 seconds . the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag . 39 . 75 g of mannitol 200 and 5 g of ssg . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 25 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 15 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 10 kn and speed of 14 tablets per minute . tablets were produced at a target tablet weight was 500 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 551 mg , a hardness of 37 newtons and a disintegration time of 37 seconds . example 5 was repeated , but employing a compression force of 15 kn . tablet were produced at a target tablet weight was 500 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 546 mg , a hardness of 54 newtons and a disintegration time of 37 seconds . example 5 was repeated , but employing a compression force of 20 kn . tablet were produced at a target tablet weight was 500 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 541 mg , a hardness of 97 newtons and a disintegration time of 42 seconds . a solution of sodium diclofenac and ethylcellulose was prepared by dissolving 5 . 0 g of sodium diclofenac and 15 . 0 g of ethylcellulose polymer in 200 mls of ethanol using a magnetic stirrer . the solution was spray dried using the bucchi 290 laboratory spray drier to form microparticles . this was repeated twice and the microparticles from the 3 batches were blended . the average diameter of the blended microparticles was 8 . 42 ± 0 . 68 microns and the sodium diclofenac loading was at 24 : 80 ( w / w ). the sodium diclofenac microparticles were blended with mannitol , kollidon cl - sf and chocolate flavouring at the following weight ratios of 20 g of sodium diclofenac microparticles : 70 . 5 g of mannitol 200 : 5 g kollidon cl - sf : 4 g chocolate flavouring . 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was then added to the blend . this blend was then tabletted using 15 mm flat beveled edge tablet toolings at a compression force of 10 kn and a speed of 14 tablets per minute . tablets obtained had a weight uniformity of 515 . 92 ± 15 . 51 mg , a hardness of 39 . 01 ± 5 . 17 newtons , a disintegration time of 32 ± 3 seconds , a friability of 0 . 58 % and a sodium diclofenac content of 27 . 00 ± 1 . 22 mg . the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag . 93 . 9 g of mannitol 200 , and 5 g of kollidon cl - sf and 0 . 6 g of raspberry flavouring . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 15 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 15 kn and speed of 14 tablets per minute . tablets were produced at a target tablet weight was 500 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 499 ± 15 . 51 mg , a hardness of 44 . 58 ± 2 . 98 newtons and a disintegration time of 22 ± 2 seconds and a friability of 0 . 89 %. the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag . 91 . 7 g of mannitol 200 , and 5 g of kollidon cl - sf , 2 g of chocolate and 0 . 8 g of mint flavouring . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 10 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 10 kn . tablets were produced at a speed of 98 tablets per minute and at a target tablet weight of 200 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 202 ± 0 . 00 mg , a hardness of 44 . 8 ± 1 . 35 newtons and a disintegration time of 20 . 3 ± 4 . 93 seconds and a friability of 0 . 00 %. example 10 was repeated at a higher tabletting speed of 196 tablets per minute . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 197 . 16 ± 2 . 41 mg , a hardness of 38 ± 0 . 85 newtons and a disintegration time of 28 . 3 ± 5 . 03 seconds and a friability of 0 . 09 %. example 10 was repeated using 13 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings a compression force of 12 kn , a speed of 14 tablets per minute and a tablet target weight of 300 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 297 . 52 ± 1 . 66 mg , a hardness of 30 . 30 ± 2 . 34 newtons and a disintegration time of 18 . 20 ± 2 . 15 seconds and a friability of 0 . 00 %. example 12 was repeated using a formulation blend of 92 . 9 g of mannitol 200 , and 5 g of kollidon cl - sf , 0 . 8 g of raspberry and 0 . 8 g of mint flavouring . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 302 . 16 ± 2 . 40 mg , a hardness of 31 . 42 ± 1 . 59 newtons and a disintegration time of 16 . 4 ± 1 . 78 seconds and a friability of 0 . 00 %. example 13 was repeated using spray dried mannitol ( mannogem ez ) instead of mannitol 200 . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 304 . 83 ± 5 . 03 mg , a hardness of 15 . 37 ± 4 . 13 newtons and a disintegration time of 6 . 9 ± 1 . 6 seconds and a friability of 100 % ( all tablets broken ). the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag 81 . 7 . g of mannitol 200 , 10 g simvastatin and 5 g of kollidon cl - sf , 2 g of chocolate and 0 . 8 g of mint flavouring . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 13 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 12 kn . tablets were produced at a speed of 14 tablets per minute and at a target tablet weight of 300 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 308 . 07 ± 2 . 47 mg , a hardness of 26 . 08 ± newtons and a disintegration time of 24 . 67 ± 2 . 52 seconds and a friability of 0 . 00 %. the simvastatin content of the tablets assayed by hplc analysis was 28 . 10 ± 1 . 99 mg / tablet the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag 79 . 5 g of mannitol 200 , and 10 g of calcium silicate and 10 g of ssg . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 10 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 10 kn . tablets were produced at a speed of 14 tablets per minute and at a target tablet weight of 300 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 300 . 37 ± 1 . 92 mg , a hardness of 45 . 35 ± 3 . 84 newtons and a disintegration time of 51 . 2 ± 3 . 33 seconds and a friability of 0 . 17 %. example 16 was repeated using 10 mm round concave toolings to produce biconvex tablets . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 295 . 17 ± 3 . 38 mg , a hardness of 84 . 19 ± 3 . 38 newtons and a disintegration time of 105 . 9 ± 3 . 75 seconds and a friability of 0 . 00 %. example 16 was repeated twice using 13 mm flat faced beveled edge round toolings and 13 mm round concave toolings . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . the 13 mm flat faced , beveled edge tablets showed an average weight of 490 . 95 ± 2 . 37 mg , a hardness of 30 . 29 ± 1 . 02 newtons and a disintegration time of 37 . 9 ± 2 . 81 seconds and a friability of 0 . 36 %. the 13 mm biconvex tablets showed an average weight of 493 . 5 ± 5 . 03 mg , a hardness of 31 . 64 ± 1 . 94 newtons and a disintegration time of 105 . 1 ± 11 . 50 seconds and a friability of 0 . 00 %. the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag 93 . 4 g of mannitol 200 , 5 g of kollidon cl - sf and 0 . 6 g of raspberry flavouring and 0 . 5 g of novamint fresh peppermint . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 5 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 20 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 20 kn . tablets were produced at a speed of 14 tablets per minute and at a target tablet weight of 1000 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 1009 . 98 ± 10 . 92 mg , a hardness of 41 . 10 ± 1 . 70 newtons and a disintegration time of 23 . 9 ± 2 . 51 seconds and a friability of 0 . 40 %. the following tabletting excipients were weighed and blended for 5 minutes in a sealed plastic bag 135 . 75 g of mannitol 200 , 7 . 5 g of kollidon cl - sf and 6 g of chocolate flavouring . after blending for 5 minutes , 0 . 75 g of magnesium stearate was added and blended gently × 1 minute . the powder blend was then transferred to the hopper of a piccola tablet press fitted with 15 mm flat faced , bevelled edge round toolings and compressed at a force of 20 kn . tablets were produced at a speed of 14 tablets per minute and at a target tablet weight of 500 mg . tablets obtained were tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . tablets showed an average weight of 497 . 57 ± 2 . 91 mg , a hardness of 50 . 39 ± 3 . 02 newtons and a disintegration time of 25 . 0 ± 3 . 0 seconds and a friability of 0 . 40 %. tablets prepared in example 20 were placed in an amber glass tablet container and the container was stored at ambient conditions in a non controlled laboratory environment . at suitable time intervals of 1 , 6 , 9 and 12 months , samples were removed and tested for weight uniformity , hardness , friability and disintegration times . the data shown in table below shows minimal change in hardness , disintegration time and friability of the tablets over the storage period of 12 months . as used herein the term “ fast dissolving sugar alcohol ” is meant to describe those sugar alcohols that dissolve quickly in the salivary conditions of the oral cavity . to determine the dissolution rate of sugar alcohol the following method is used , which simulates the environment of the oral cavity : 1 ) 2 . 5 grams of sugar alcohol material is weighed and hand pressed into a tablet . the tablet is pressed to a desired tablet “ crush ” hardness of approximately 8000 grams . the tablet “ crush ” hardness is measured by calculating the force , in grams , needed to crush the tablet . 2 ) to determine the tablet dissolution in the salivary environment of the oral cavity , commercially available artificial saliva , such as sterile refined porcine gastric mucin , is used . saliva orthana , manufactured by a / s orthana keisk fabrik , kastrup , denmark is a suitable artificial saliva . 3 ) in a beaker , 450 ml ( milliliters ) of the artificial saliva is heated to 32 ° c . and stirred at 300 rpm ( revolutions per minute ) with a magnetic stiner . 40 ml of the preheated saliva is removed and placed in a 60 ml beaker and stirred at 400 rpm . 4 ) the sugar alcohol tablet is added to the artificial saliva . the time in seconds for the tablet to breakup from a tablet shape into pieces is recorded as the tablet breakdown time . the time in seconds that the tablet takes to dissolve completely into the solution is recorded as the dissolution time . fast dissolving sugar alcohols are those sugar alcohols typically with a dissolution time of about 200 seconds or less based on the above method , in one embodiment about 150 seconds or less . in this specification , the term “ fast dissolving type tablets ” should also be understood to include chewable tablets . further , the tablets of , and obtainable by the process of , the invention find utility for both human and animal use , and for delivery of pharmaceutical , dietary , nutraceutical , and other forms of active components . further , they may be provided in the form of tablets intended to be dissolved in a solution prior to ingestion , and also oral , vaginal and other routes of administration . the tablets of , and obtainable by the process of , the invention are also useful for the delivery of macromolecules , unpalatable actives , highly potent actives , and actives that are subject to first - pass metabolism , both by means of local and systemic administration . they are also useful for the sub - lingual delivery of actives . the invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction , detail and method steps without departing from the spirit of the invention .
a method of producing a fast - melt tablet comprises the steps of forming a mixture of components , the mixture comprising at least one fast dissolving sugar alcohol , at least one disintegrant or osmotic agent , and at least one an active component , blending the mixture for a period of time , and directly compressing the blended mixture at a compression force of typically between 5 and 2o kn to form the fast - melt tablet . the process of the invention does not involve any granulation step , thereby making the process more energy efficient and cost effective . the fast dissolving sugar alcohol is selected from the group comprising : mannitol ; sorbitol ; erythritol ; xylitol ; lactose ; dextrose ; and sucrose , and comprises at least 50 %, preferably at least 60 %, and more preferably at least 70 %, of the tablet . the active component is suitably provided in the form of microparticles or microcapsules having an average diameter of less than 125 microns . also described are directly compressed fast dissolving type tablets obtainable by the process of the invention . the tablets typically are flat - faced .