What characterizes a pellet as a dosage form?

A pellet as a dosage form is characterized by being a multi-particulate form that consists of many small, coherent particles. This formulation allows for improved drug release characteristics, better distribution in the gastrointestinal tract, and minimizes the risk of localized irritation that might be associated with larger doses of active ingredients.

Pellets are typically spherical or cylindrical and can be created through various processes, such as extrusion-spheronization or layering techniques. The multi-particulate nature of pellets offers advantages in terms of dosage flexibility and enhanced bioavailability, as the smaller particles can dissolve more readily compared to a single, larger particle.

Furthermore, this characteristic allows pellets to provide a more uniform drug delivery profile, reducing peaks and troughs in plasma concentration, which can be beneficial for maintaining therapeutic levels over extended periods. This is particularly important for medications requiring controlled or sustained release.

In contrast, other dosage forms like liquid solutions or capsules do not match the multi-particulate definition of pellets and serve different purposes and characteristics in the pharmaceutical formulation landscape.