ABSTRACT
Since man first began to treat illnesses using oral administration of herbs and other
available materials, there have been a problems of how to take the medicines because
many drugs, whether natural or synthetic, are bitter. Many of the early developments in
formulations were designed with taste masking and convenience in mind. We formulate
to convert bulk drugs into medicines that the patient can use. In the case of oral
administration, both tablets and capsules are convenient for patients as they allow self-
medication and can be easily designed to mask any unpleasant taste. Besides tablets and
capsules, there are also powders, usually taken dispersed in water. But tablets and cap-
sules are comparatively recent developments. In the past drugs were formulated as
powders, cachets (made of rice starch), and pillules (pills). Tablets and capsules are used
today because, in many respects, they are easier and quicker to manufacture, and lend
themselves to more automated methods. Tablets in particular can be manufactured at very
high speed on today’s modern equipment.
