ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The oral route is still the most convenient and appropriate way to dispense or administer most medications as tablets or capsules to patients, young and elderly. The dose strength in most widely used tablets varies widely, that is, from a few micrograms to hundreds of micrograms, while tablets weighing from a few micrograms up to about 1500 mg are commonly manufactured for marketing. Such dosage forms have several disadvantages. For example, it is estimated that 50% of the population have problems swallowing tablets (1,2). It is especially hard for the elderly and children to swallow tablets or capsules, or to medicate patients who are unable or unwilling to swallow tablets or capsules. Moreover, some adults with schizophrenia or bipolar mania may have difficulty in swallowing tablets or, in institutional settings, may hide pills inside their cheek to later spit them out. Furthermore, conventional tablets or capsules usually must be administered with water, which is not always possible or convenient. This leads to poor or even noncompliance with the treatment, which consequently has a negative impact on the efficacy of the treatment such as:
“Patient nonadherence can limit physician’s ability to successfully treat patients and can increase the cost of health care” (3).
