Tablet/capsule lubricants

The use of excipients goes back to centuries. Even before the advent of the capsule and later the tablet, the available botanical drugs were made into powders or mixtures to make them more convenient for the patient, although sometimes not that palatable. Ointments and salves, with similarities to topical formulations that have been used in more recent times, were known in Ancient Greece. However, the scientific basis for the use of certain excipients has emerged only in the last few decades for example, tablet lubricants—until a few years ago we knew they were needed and when to use them, but not why they functioned as they do. 

The primary function of tablet lubricants is to reduce the friction arising at the interface of tablet and die walls during compression and ejection. Lubricants also possess antiadherent (prevention of sticking to the punch and, to a lesser extent, to the die wall) and gli-dant (improvement of flow characteristics of powders or granulates) characteristics and are useful in the processing of hard gelatin capsules. 

Allen LV. Featured excipient capsule and tablet lubricants. Int J Pharm Compound 2000 4(5) 390—392. 

Uses Emollient in cosmetics textile lubricant pharmaceutical intermediate, diluent, crystallization promoter, m.p. modifier, bodying agent, lubricant, moisturizer emulsifier mold release agent buffing compd. filler in capsules, tablets, and suppositories in food-pkg. adhesives defoamer in food-contact paper/paperboard in food-contact textiles Regulatory FDA21CFR 175.105,176.180,176.210,177.2800,182.70, 182.170 BP, EP compliance... 

Colloidal anhydrous silica (colloidal silicon oxide) and magnesium stearate are used as lubricants in the preparation of capsules, tablets and powders (see Sect. 4.4.3). Addition of lubricants in the preparation of capsules, powders and tablets usually leads to a smoother fill of the capsules, or the moulds. An additional advantage is the reduction of the losses as a result of the elimination of the static charge of the powder mixture. 

Uses Direct food additive, formulation aid excipient for phamiaceulical tablets lubricant, binder for tablets and capsules lubricant, plasticizer for plastics richness agent, bodying agent, vise, agent for lipsticks, creams, lotions, make-up prods. 

Lubricant for capsules and tablets, viscosity-imparting agent, drying agent for powder... 

Capsule formulations usually require lubricants just as do tablet formulations. Lubricants ease the ejection of plugs, reduce filming on pistons and adhesion of powder to metal surfaces, and reduce friction between sliding surfaces in contact with powder. The same lubricants are used in both tablet and capsule formulations. 

Excipients are sub-divided into various functional classifications, depending on the role that they are intended to play in the resultant formulation, for example, fillers, disintegrants, binders, lubricants and glidants. An added complexity is the fact that certain excipients can have different functional roles in different formulation types. Thus, lactose is widely used as a filler or diluent in solid oral dosage forms, for example, tablets and capsules [2] and as a carrier for inhalation products [3]. 

Sodium benzoate Antimicrobial preservative tablet and capsule lubricant Nonionic surfactants, quaternary compounds, gelatin, ferric salts, calcium salts and salts, of heavy metals, including silver, lead, and mercury... 

Talc —OH Anticaking agent, glidant, tablet and capsule diluent, and lubricant... 

PEG —O—, —OH Plasticizer, solvent, suppository base, tablet and capsule lubricant... 

The fact that most vegetable oils and fats are nontoxic allows them to be used as reliable excipients or carriers in many pharmaceutical formulations. Vegetable oils and fats have been approved as excipients to facilitate delivery of bioactive compounds, to act as fillers, binders, lubricants, solubilizers, emulsifiers, and emollients in a variety of delivery forms including tablets, capsules, suppositories, emulsions (enteral/parenteral), ointments, creams, and lotions. Other nondirect applications include artificial blood, gene delivery, diagnostic imaging, and medical devices (27). 

The almost universal use of lubricants such as stearates in tablets and capsules to reduce friction between moving parts during compression or compaction. 

For tablets and capsules, excipients are needed both for the facilitation of the tableting and capsule-filling process (e.g., glidants) and for the formulation (e.g., disintegrants). Except for diluents, which may be present in large quantity, the level of excipient use is usually limited to only a few percent and some lubricants will be required at <1%. Details of the types, uses, and mechanisms of action of various excipients for tablet and capsule production have been discussed at length in other articles in this encyclopedia. The types and functions of excipients for tablet production are summarized in Table 1. Although binders. 

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