abstract |
Rapidly water-disintegrable tablet is provided comprising an active ingredient such as a foodstuff or medicament, and distributed therewithin a small but effective amount of a tablet disintegrable system comprising an unreacted, intimate mixture of alginic acid and a water soluble metal carbonate in proportions reactive to form metal alginic acid salt and carbonic acid when the tablet is placed in water, the bulk of the salt acting to swell the tablet and the carbonic acid acting to simultaneously release carbon dioxide within the swelling tablet whereby rapid disintegration of the tablet is effected. |