Oral drug delivery is one of the most convenient — and most common — methods of delivering medication. Its simplicity and cost-effectiveness have made it particularly popular with manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry… but it is not always quite so well liked by consumers.
The trouble with tablets
Traditionally, orally administered drugs are dispensed in a solid form, such as capsules or tablets and liquid forms, such as solutions or emulsions. Tablets are widely accepted because of their ease of manufacture and convenience in terms of self-administration and compactness and yet, a large number of people have difficulty swallowing solid tablets. Children, the elderly and people with certain illnesses or disabilities may not take their medications as prescribed as a result of swallowing problems. To overcome these difficulties, patients may crush, break or chew their tablets, which can lead to changes in drug absorption or variation in dosage sizes.
Finding an alternative
Consumers have come to expect a personalised experience in many aspects of their lives, and the way they take their medication is no exception.
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