Tableting of coated pellets

Oral sustained/controlled release multiple unit dosage forms are becoming more popular when compared to single unit dosage forms. With regard to the final dosage form, the multiparticulates are usually formulated into single unit dosage forms such as filling them into hard gelatin capsules or compacting them into tablets. Although there is abundant literature available on the preparation of pellets and on coating technology, only a. few dozen research articles have addressed the issue of compaction of coated pellets into tablets. This review provides an update on this research area and discusses the important formulation and process parameters necessary to obtain pellet-containing tablets, which, ideally, have the same properties, in particular drug release properties, as the individual coated pellets. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.