Dispersible tablets: a promising dosage form for the administration of medicines to paediatric patients

Abstract

The lack of age-appropriate paediatric formulations remains a significant challenge in children’s healthcare, resulting in decreased treatment safety, efficacy, and adherence. Children require individualised medicines because their growth, body functions, and developmental stages differ from those of adults. This review article focuses on the importance and challenges associated with designing paediatric dosage forms, the dosage forms currently available for children, the ideal considerations for these forms, and how dispersible tablets (DTs) meet each consideration, making DTs a promising option for children. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations of DTs are outlined, and the availability of DTs for paediatrics on the South African market is being investigated. DTs have recently emerged as an up-and-coming option for children as they combine the advantages of both liquid and solid formulations, offering accurate dosing, ease of administration, improved stability, and greater patient acceptability. Their ability to disintegrate rapidly in a small volume of liquid makes them especially suitable for children who have difficulty swallowing conventional tablets. By expanding the availability of DTs, both through local pharmaceutical development and the importation of internationally approved formulations, therapeutic outcomes in paediatrics can be improved by promoting safer and more effective paediatric medication use.