Hypolipidemic agent Atorvastatin Calcium is a selective and competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. Studies done clinical and pathologic reflected that raised-up plasma levels of total cholesterol (total-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and Apolipoprotein B (apo B) promote human atherosclerosis and are the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease, while increased levels of HDL-C are associated with a decreased cardiovascular risk. As it has long half-life (14hrs), it is not suitable drug for controlled release formulation. Tablet dosage form is preferable because other dosage form don’t have good shelf life in case of atorvastatin due to its degradation and impurity issue. Different processing parameters on final formulation & first case study were carried out for optimization of the best condition of the formulation.[1]

Atorvastatin calcium is highly receptive to heat, moisture, a low pH environment and light. Again, the amorphous form is many times unstable than its counterpart crystalline form. In acidic environment it degrades into corresponding lactone. The in-vitro evaluation of an immediate release dosage form by using Atorvastatin calcium in amorphous form was used in tablets prepared by Dry granulation/Roller compaction techniques. The percent drug releases at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 30 mins were selected as responses. The release of Atorvastatin Calcium was immediate within 2-3 mins, indicating the usefulness of the formulations for once daily dosage forms. [2]

Oral dosages form is the most desirable and preferred dosages form. Oral medication is generally considered as the first avenue investigated in the discovery and development of new drug entities and pharmaceutical formulations, mainly because of convenience in administration of drug and cost-effective manufacturing process. [1]

It is estimated that 90% of drug formulations are administered by oral route. When a new drug molecule is discovered, every pharmaceutical company makes full efforts that it can be intended effectively by oral route and if it cannot be intended by oral route then it is relegated to administration in a hospital setting or physician’s office. If self-administration of drug is not possible, then sale of pharmaceutical company is decrease. [2]

Oral dosages form includes solid dosages form (tablets, capsules) and liquid dosages form (syrups, suspension) etc. Liquid dosages form generally contains one dose of medication in 5-30 ml so there are chances of drug inaccuracy when medication is self- administered by the patient but tablets and capsules have advantage of unit dosages form and accurate amount of drug is placed in it. Tablets and capsules account for near half of the total number and cost of all prescription written by physician.

Mouth dissolving tablet is defined as “a solid dosage form containing medicinal substance or active ingredient which disintegrate rapidly usually within a matter of seconds when placed upon the tongue.” Mouth dissolving tablets are also known as melt-in mouth tablets, oral dispersible tablets, porous tablets, quick dissolving tablet. Mouth dissolving tablets dissolve or disintegrate in the oral cavity without the need of water. Most Mouth dissolving tablets must include substances to mask the bitter taste of the active ingredient. This masked active ingredient is then swallowed by the patient's saliva along with the soluble and insoluble excipients. [3, 4]

In recent years, a variety of improved methods for delivering drugs have been developed with the aim of improving bioavailability convenience and patient compliance. Some tablets are designed to dissolve in saliva within a few seconds, and so-called true Mouth-dissolving tablets. [5]

Mouth dissolving technology offers following advantages: