What type of dosage form is composed of a mixture of drug substance(s) and excipients pressed into a compact?

A tablet is a solid dosage form that is created by compressing a mixture of drug substances and excipients into a compact, solid unit. This process typically involves the combination of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with various excipients such as binders, fillers, disintegrants, and lubricants, which enhance the overall properties of the tablet, including its stability, release profile, and ease of manufacturing.

Tablets come in various forms, including immediate-release, extended-release, and sublingual formulations, allowing for flexibility in how the drug is delivered and absorbed in the body. They are one of the most common dosage forms due to their convenience, accuracy in dosing, and long shelf-life.

In distinction, granules are aggregates of powdered material, often used as a pre-tablet form or for certain types of modified-release formulations. Capsules are enclosures made of gelatin or other materials that can contain powder, granules, or even liquids but are not themselves a compact. Liquids are pharmaceutical forms that are not solid and involve formulations that are in liquid state, further emphasizing that the definition of a tablet specifically pertains to its solid form created through pressing.