Difference Between Lubricant Glidant and Anti Adherent l Lubricant vs Glidant vs Anti Adherent

The key difference between lubricant glidant and anti adherent is that the lubricant reduces the friction while the glidant promotes the flowability of a powder whereas the anti adherent provides non-sticking properties.

Although the term lubricants have many applications in different occasions, we are going to talk about the use of this term in pharmaceutical chemistry. Lubricants, glidants and anti-adherents are substances that we use in the pharmaceutical industry when producing a tablet; as a medicine.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lubricant
3. What is Glidant
4. What is Anti Adherent
5. Side by Side Comparison – Lubricant Glidant vs Anti Adherent in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Lubricant?

Lubricants are substances that we use in tablet and capsule formulations in order to reduce the friction. That is, this component can reduce the friction between particles that we use to make the tablet during compression. Moreover, these components can reduce the friction between the walls of the tablet and the walls of the cavity in which we produce the tablets. These components can form a coat around each granule that we use in this production. Further, this coat forming effect gets extended towards the tablet surface as well.

However, these lubricants show some drawbacks as well. For example, it reduces the tensile strength of the tablet by interfering with the bonding between particles of the tablet. Moreover, extend the disintegration and dissolution time as well. This means lubricants may give waterproofing properties to the tablet. In addition to that, the concentration of this component should not exceed 1% in order to get a maximum flow rate. Some common examples of lubricants that we use in pharmaceutical productions are stearic acid and calcium or magnesium salts of stearic acid.

What is Glidant?

Glidants are substances that we use to increase the flowability of a powder. That means it promotes the flow of the tablet granules (or the powder). It does so by reducing the friction between these granules. However, the effect of these substances depends on the shape and the size of granules and glidants.

Difference Between Lubricant Glidant and Anti Adherent

Figure 01: Tablets and Capsules

Generally, hydrophilic materials act better on hydrophilic granules and vice versa. These compounds ensure the flow of the granules of a formulation up to a certain optimum concentration. If the concentration of the glidant exceeds this optimum concentration, it may cause a drag action which reduces the flow rate. Some common glidants that we use in the pharmaceutical industry are talc, starch, colloidal silica, silicates, etc. Among them, the traditional glidant is talc.

What is Anti Adherent?

Anti-adherents are substances that can prevent the tablet from its adhesion properties. Therefore we can call them “non-sticking agents”. These substances can avoid the adhesion of the tablet surface to the wall of the cavity where we produce the tablet. As anti-adherents, we can use water-insoluble lubricants such as magnesium stearate, talc and starch.

What is the Difference Between Lubricant Glidant and Anti Adherent?

Lubricants are substances that we use in tablet and capsule formulations in order to reduce the friction. More importantly, these substances reduce the friction between particles that we use to make the tablet during compression. Glidants are substances that we use to increase the flowability of a powder. Moreover, it increases the flow rate of the granules of the powder that we use for tablet formation. Anti-adherents are substances that can prevent the tablet from its adhesion properties. Importantly, these substances avoid the adhesion of the tablet surface to the wall of the cavity where we produce the tablet. The below infographic presents the difference between lubricant glidant and anti adherent in tabular form.

Summary – Lubricant Glidant vs Anti Adherent

There are many components that we use in producing a tablet in the pharmaceutical industry such as lubricants, glidants and anti-adherents. The difference between lubricant glidant and anti adherent is that lubricants reduce the friction while glidants promote the flowability of a powder whereas anti adherents provide non-sticking properties.