Recent advances in the technology of effervescent tablets: lessons learned and future perspectives

Abstract

Effervescent tablets are solid pharmaceutical dosage forms that are widely accepted due to their advantages. The improvement in patient compliance results from a combination of factors related to both the extrinsic characteristics of the tablet and the effects it produces. An important reason is the possibility of avoiding swallowing whole tablets, as a large part of the population, such as the elderly, children, and dysphagic patients, find it difficult to swallow them. The aim of this investigation is to review the recent literature on the technology and application of effervescent tablets and investigate their added value towards upgrading of such dosage forms and in general of pharmaceutical technology. Special attention is given to the excipients that are used for the design and development of efficacious systems, as well as their added value for the drug release studies having in mind the patients’ unmet needs.