Friday, December 4, 2020

Advantages and disadvantages of granules dosage form

The major advantage of granules is that it is easily dissolved and release, and have a high rate of utilization and absorption.

The pharmaceutical dosage forms can be categorized as solids, semi-solids, liquids, and gases, which is depending on the form. Most medicines are developed for oral administration in a solid dosage form, in which tablets, capsules, powders, granules are popular.
Granules are solid dosage forms for oral administration that are composed of dry aggregates of powder particles enclose with one or more drugs, with or without other ingredients or excipients. It is mostly used for low-toxicity, high-dose drugs and can be taken as such, dissolved in water, or dispersed in food There are several types of granules are used for medication such as effervescent granules, coated granules, gastro-resistant granules, and modified-release granules.
Advantages of granules dosage form:
  • The granules dosage form is more flexible and convenient to administer, mainly for adult and children patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules.
  • The granules can be formulated by both the dry granulation method and the wet granulation method.
  • The granules can be coated or prepared into an enteric or sustained release.
  • It is also suitable to dispense drugs with a large dosage, and it is convenient to take.
  • Granules are appropriate for industrial production, it has a simple process and it does not need punching or coating instrument. 
  • Granules are also suitable for those drugs that are sensitive to moisture since its formulation does not have moisture content.
  • The dissolution rate of granules is higher than that of tablets or capsules since they must first disintegrate before the drug dissolves.
  • Granules and powders are more chemically more stable than the liquid dosage form.
  • It provides rapid dispersion of medicaments in the stomach when delivered in the pharmaceutical powders or granule form.
  • Granules flow uniformly and freely in the hopper and are more compatible for compression than with powders.
  • Granules have a smaller surface area than powders and it increases compressibility.
  • Granulation is suitable for most kinds of drugs.
Disadvantages of granules dosage form:
  • The major disadvantage of granules is that they are much less comfortable for the patient to dispense and carry as compared with tablets or capsules.
  • It is difficult to formulate active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) which are hygroscopic or deliquescent, amorphous oxygen-sensitive, and volatile.
  • To perform the granulation process experienced person is required.
  • It needs special storage conditions; these types of medicine should be stored in a dry place to prevent moisture degradation.
  • Compared to tablets, pills, and capsules, the dosage of the granules may not accurate as they have a stable dose, high precision, and lowest variability.
  • It includes several processing steps and takes more time, energy, and space, hence it is a costly technique.
  • Granules are not suitable for the administration of potent drugs with low doses; however, the manufacture of tablets and capsules is a more appropriate option for low-dose products.
  • It cannot protect the unpleasant odor and taste of the drugs.
Commonly asked questions on dosage forms are as follows.

What granulation techniques are used in pharmaceutical industries?
Wet granulation and dry granulation are two types of granular technologies are used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

What are the types of tablet coating?
According to the properties and nature tablets are coated with an enteric coating, sugar coating, gelatin coating, film coating, compression coating, electrostatic coating, magnetically assisted impaction coating, dip coating, and rotary-die coating.

What are the different classes of powders?
Bulk powders, divided powders, dusting powders, dry powder inhalers, and powdered antibiotics for reconstitution are the classes of powders.


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