Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms Laboratory Manual
PREPARATION # 3: PARACETAMOL TABLETS
I. Objectives:
1. Determine the methods of preparation of tablets.
2. Know the advantages of solid dosage forms over liquid dosage forms.
3. Determine the characteristics of ideal tablets.
II. Materials:
Paracetamol Thermometer
Talc Drying Oven
Magnesium stearate Analytical Balance
Plasdone Aluminum Foil
Starch powder Tablet Press
15% Starch paste Sieve #6, #12, #20, #100
Purified water Mortar & Pestle
Beaker 250 mL
III. Discussion:
Tablets are solid dosage forms that contain a mixture of active substances and
excipients. Tablet excipients: diluents, binders/adhesives, disintegrants, lubricants, anti-
adherents, glidants, colors/dyes, flavoring agents, and artificial sweeteners.
Tablets are classified according to their route of administration, drug delivery system,
and form/method of manufacture.
IV. Formula:
Ingredients: Original Amount
Paracetamol 500.00 mg
Starch 75.00 mg
Talc 6.00 mg
Magnesium Stearate 6.00 mg
Plasdone 6.00 mg
Purified water q.s.
V. Procedure:
1. Pass the paracetamol and starch through sieve #20.
2. Blend paracetamol and starch by trituration for 5 minutes.
3. Prepare 15% starch paste.
4. Add 15% starch paste and enough purified water to the triturated powders in
small portions by kneading until a moist mass is formed.
5. Screen the moist mass by forcing it through sieve #6.
6.
more than 2%.
7. Screen the dried granules using sieve #12.
8. Pass talc, magnesium stearate, and plasdone through sieve #100 with the dried
granules on the tray as a receiver.
9. Blend mixture using tumbling method for 5 minutes.
10. Compress using tableting machine/tablet press.
VI. Clean-Up Procedure:
1. Clean the sieve with soap and water. Wipe dry and return it to the laboratory
assistant/technician.
2. Clean the tablet press using a vacuum cleaner or wet method.
3. Clean all your laboratory apparatus and return them to your assigned locker
cabinet.
4. Clean your working area before leaving the laboratory.
VII. References:
Allen, L.V., Popovich, N.G. & Ansel, H.C. (2017). Tablets In Ansel’s Pharmaceutical
Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery System (11th edition) (pp. 225-256). Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Allen, L.V. Oral Solid Dosage Forms in Remington: The Science & Practice of Pharmacy
(23rd edition, pp. 947-976). Philadelphia: Pharmaceutical Press.
