EFFECTS OF CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM COMBINED WITH OTHER SUPERDISINTEGRANTS IN FAST-DISINTEGRATING TABLETS: A REVIEW
Conventional tablets may present patient compliance challenges, particularly among pediatric, geriatric, and individuals with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). To address these limitations, orally disintegrating (ODTs) and fast dissolving tablets (FDTs) have been developed to disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity without the need for water. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combining croscarmellose sodium (CCS) with various superdisintegrants on the physical characteristics and disintegration performance of ODTs and FDTs. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify articles published between 2015 and 2025. Following the screening and eligibility assessment, 12 articles met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The findings indicate that combining CCS with crospovidone effectively accelerates tablet disintegration, particularly when crospovidone is used at a higher proportion. The combination of CCS and sodium starch glycolate shows favorable disintegration performance when CCS is used at a higher proportion, whereas the combination of CCS and karaya gum demonstrates potential as a natural superdisintegrant despite limitations associated with gel formation. Overall, the reviewed evidence suggests that combining CCS with other superdisintegrants may improve disintegration performance while maintaining acceptable physical characteristics; however, the effectiveness of these combinations depends on the proportion of superdisintegrants and the characteristics of the formulation and active pharmaceutical ingredient. Keywords: croscarmellose sodium, superdisintegrants, fast-disintegrating tablets, orally disintegrating tablets