Tablets comprising a taste masking agent

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a tablet comprising at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound; and at least one zinc salt. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of a zinc salt to reduce or mask the bitter taste of or the numbness of the mucosa caused by pharmaceutically active compounds.

1 . An oral solid dosage form comprising:
 at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound; and   at least one zinc salt to mask the bitter taste and/or mucosa numbing of the at least one pharmaceutically active compound,   wherein the ratio of the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound to the at least one zinc salt is from about 2:1 to about 5:1 by weight.   
     
     
         2 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound to the at least one zinc salt is from about 2.5:1 to about 4:1 by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound to the at least one zinc salt is from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1 by weight. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one zinc salt comprises zinc sulphate. 
     
     
         6 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one zinc salt comprises zinc iodide. 
     
     
         7 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound comprises donepezil hydrochloride. 
     
     
         8 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1  in the form of an oral disintegrating tablet. 
     
     
         9 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 7 , wherein the disintegrant is sodium croscarmellose and/or sodium starch glycolate and the bitter tasting pharmaceutically active compound is donepezil hydrochloride. 
     
     
         10 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the tablet does not comprise an anionic acidic polysaccharide. 
     
     
         11 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the zinc salt is a taste-masking agent and the tablet further comprises an amount of a taste-masking agent other than zinc salt, which is less than 50% by weight of the total taste-masking agents. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 11 , wherein the amount of the taste-masking agent other than zinc salts is less than 20% by weight of the total taste-masking agents. 
     
     
         15 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the bitter-tasting pharmaceutically active compound is selected from the group consisting of donepezil hydrochloride, dextromethorphan, chlorhexidine, guaifenensin, pseudoephedrine; caffeine, atorvastatin, acetyl salicylic acid, acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, sildenafil citrate, loperamide, midodrine hydrochloride, brotizolam; ticlopidine hydrochloride, maprotiline hydrochloride, iphenprodil hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride, digitoxin, propranolol hydrochloride, chloramphenicol, aminophylline, erythromycin, phenobarbital, calcium pantothenate or pantothenic acid, indeloxazine hydrochloride, aminoguanidine hydrochloride, ibuprofen, cefcapene hydrochloride, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one zinc salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc iodide, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The oral solid dosage form according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one zinc salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc iodide, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . An oral solid dosage form comprising:
 at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound; and   at least one compound comprising zinc ions to mask the bitter taste and/or mucosa numbing of the at least one pharmaceutically active compound,   wherein the ratio of the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound to zinc ions is from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1 by weight.   
     
     
         19 . The oral solid dosage form of  claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound to zinc ions is from about 1:1 to about 1.5:1 by weight. 
     
     
         20 . The oral solid dosage form of  claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the at least one bitter tasting and/or mucosa numbness causing pharmaceutically active compound to zinc ions is from about 1.2:1.