Taste-masking possibilities in solid dosage forms

Increasing number of new, innovative pharmaceutical products are in the generic market. One of the important dosage forms is the group of orally disintegrating products. The feature of these products is that they disintegrate rapidly in the mouth upon contact with the saliva; therefore the dissolution of the water-soluble components begins in the mouth. Since a large part of the drug molecules is characterised by a more or less bitter taste, even a small amount of the dissolved drug can cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Manufacturers apply different techniques to mask the bitter taste of these products, depending on the characteristics of the dosage form and the bioavailability requirements. In this study, we reviewed the most widespread taste-masking methods based on the scientific literature and different patents and the characteristics of some important excipients, and outline an instrumental technique used for bitterness measurements.