Medicated Chewing Gum-An Emerging Intra- Oral Dosage Form

Medicated chewing gum, in addition to its confectionary role also has a proven value as a drug delivery vehicle for pharmaceuticals, over the counter medicines and neutraceuticals ingredients. In 1991, the European pharmacopoeia defined the intended use of medicated chewing gum as non-dissolving intra-oral drug dosage form for local treatment of mouth diseases or for systemic delivery after absorption through buccal mucosa or from the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, medicated chewing gums require the active and continuous masticatory activities for activation and continuation of drug release. In addition, drug that is not absorbed by the oral cavity membranes can be dissolved in the saliva before being swallowed thus leading to a more rapid onset of action. Medicated chewing gums are used not only for special population groups with swallowing difficulties such as children and the elderly, but also for the general population, including the young generation. Thus chewing gum proves to be an excellent drug delivery system for self-medication as it is convenient and can be administered discretely without the aid of water. The present article highlights medicated chewing gum drug delivery system concepts including its advantages and disadvantages, composition, manufacturing processes, factors affecting drug release, its evaluation parameters, applications and worldwide marketed preparations.