Fast-Melt Tablets: A New Era in Drug Delivery

Fast-melt tablets (FMTs)—also called orally disintegrating tablets or melt-in-mouth tablets—are a rapidly evolving drug delivery system that gained significant attention in recent years. These dosage forms disintegrate or dissolve quickly upon contact with saliva, eliminating the need for water and offering advantages for pediatric, geriatric, and dysphagic patients.¹ By improving ease of administration and compliance, FMTs are increasingly viewed as a patient-centric dosage option.

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FMTs are created in a way to provide rapid onset of action, precisely because the drug absorption process starts when the tablet disintegrates in the mouth. This can enhance therapeutic response times for certain conditions. Additionally, FMTs can elevate drug bioavailability via absorption directly into the oral mucosa, allowing complete or partial bypass of the first-pass metabolism.² Other patient-reported benefits include a pleasant mouthfeel and reduced risk of choking, making them especially suitable for patients with swallowing difficulties.¹

Technologies and Development

Several production methods are behind the successful creation of FMTs. One major process is wet granulation combined with compression, which allows the tablets to be dissolved in a few seconds while keeping their adequate hardness.³ Innovative methods of freeze-drying (lyophilization), such as those developed in the 1990s, which could disintegrate in less than 5 seconds, in some cases.⁴ More contemporary advancements include the use of co-spray-dried excipients, which simplify direct compression manufacturing and support large-scale production.⁵ These technologies collectively drive the growth of FMTs as a versatile and effective dosage form.

Despite their advantages, FMTs present notable challenges for formulation scientists. One issue is the need to balance mechanical strength with fast disintegration. Tablets must withstand handling, packaging, and shipping without breaking, yet still dissolve quickly in the oral cavity. The stability is another major issue that leads to difficulties. Both moisture and temperature variations may cause the integrity of the product to be at risk. The use of selected excipients, the application of a layer of protective coating, and the use of an apparatus such as desiccators, are some of the measures that manufacturers take to ensure performance in the long term.³ Additionally, the introduction of super disintegrants such as crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium greatly contribute to fulfilling the necessity of quick disintegration of the dosage form.⁶

Applications in Health and Wellness

Although FMTs were initially developed for prescription medications, they have since found utility in the consumer health market. EZ Melts, for example, manufactures sugar-free fast-melt vitamin tablets designed for convenient, water-free administration. These tablets dissolve quickly in the mouth, highlighting how FMT technology can improve both patient experience and adherence.⁷ This consumer adoption underscores the versatility of the platform across therapeutic and wellness contexts.

The demand for FMTs is likely to increase in the coming years as the global population ages and the importance of patient-centered drug delivery increases. Researchers continue to explore new excipients and hybrid manufacturing methods to achieve not only a robustness and stability of tablets but also a fast disintegration. There is growing interest in applying FMT technology to poorly soluble drugs, which could benefit from enhanced dissolution and absorption profiles.⁸ As clinical evidence builds and regulatory pathways become more established, FMTs are poised to remain a central innovation in modern drug delivery.

Conclusion

FMTs are an important progress in oral dosage forms, as they combine the patient-friendly design, quick therapeutic action, and increased adherence. Technological innovations that overcome formulation issues place FMTs in a good position to extend their use in prescription drugs as well as in over-the-counter supplements. Serving as a bridge between efficacy and convenience, this dosage form is indicative of the current trend of patient-centered pharmaceutical care.

REFERENCES

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2. Baby Lynthong, Fathima Thafheema, Gowda M. Fast-Melt Tablets: A New Era On Brand-New Drug Delivery System And Its Technology. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2024;02(10). doi:10.5281/zenodo.13955749

3. Jeong SH, Fu Y, Park K. Frosta: a new technology for making fast-melting tablets. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2005;2(6):1107-1116. doi:10.1517/17425247.2.6.1107

4. Parkash V, Maan S, Deepika, Yadav SK, Hemlata, Jogpal V. Fast disintegrating tablets: Opportunity in drug delivery system. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011;2(4):223-235. doi:10.4103/2231-4040.90877

5. Fast Melt Tablets Made Easy ! Fuji Chemical Industries Technical Information Site. Published June 18, 2020. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://tech-en.fujichemical.co.jp/fmelt-info

6.EFAIDNBMNNNIBPCAJPCGLCLEFINDMKAJ/https://www.ajer.org/papers/v6(03)/f06033236.pdf. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380124420_chrome-extensionefaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkajhttpswwwajerorgpapersv603F06033236pdf.

7. Dissolvable Vitamins with Zero Sugar. EZ Melts. Published 2019. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://ezmelts.com/

8. P. Baghel, Roy A, S. Chandrakar, Bahadur S. Fast Dissolving Drug Delivery Systems: A Brief Review. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2013;6(6):597-602. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287179471_Fast_Dissolving_Drug_Delivery_Systems_A_Brief_Review