Orodispersible Films as a Solution to Drug Acceptability Issues: A Short Review
Mohamed Yafout *
Laboratory of Drug Sciences, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University of Casablanca, 19, Tarik Ibnou Ziad Street, P.O.Box 9154, Casablanca, Morocco.
Hicham Elhorr
Laboratory of Drug Sciences, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University of Casablanca, 19, Tarik Ibnou Ziad Street, P.O.Box 9154, Casablanca, Morocco.
Amine Ousaid
Laboratory of Drug Sciences, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University of Casablanca, 19, Tarik Ibnou Ziad Street, P.O.Box 9154, Casablanca, Morocco.
Ibrahim Sbai El Otmani
Laboratory of Drug Sciences, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University of Casablanca, 19, Tarik Ibnou Ziad Street, P.O.Box 9154, Casablanca, Morocco.
Youssef Khayati
Laboratory of Drug Sciences, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University of Casablanca, 19, Tarik Ibnou Ziad Street, P.O.Box 9154, Casablanca, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Despite the fact that the tablets are the most widely used dosage form, they are not suitable for young children and patients with swallowing difficulties, especially the elderly. Orodispersible films (ODFs) dissolve rapidly in the mouth and deliver an accurate amount of the active ingredient, which makes them an easy-to-use dosage form that can improve drug acceptability and, therefore, treatment adherence. The findings of the 4 studies that we discussed in this review prove that ODFs have experimentally-proven good acceptability in all age groups and that they are clinically superior to tablets and syrups in terms of acceptability. Therefore, despite some limitations, ODFs are still an innovative and patient-centered dosage form that can contribute to improving drug acceptability and treatment adherence particularly in children and elderly patients. Pharmaceutical companies should focus on developing more ODF-based drugs and also other innovative dosage forms that can make the drug-taking experience even-easier.
Keywords: Orodispersible films, drug acceptability, treatment adherence, pediatric patients, geriatric patients, innovative dosage forms, swallowing difficulty