Taste masking techniques in the pharmaceutical industry

Taste is a crucial factor that determines the palatability of oral dosage form and patient compliance. It also gives a unique identity to a product and thereby provides a competitive advantage to a company, especially in the case of over-the-counter products. There are several taste masking techniques available, which either involve modification of bitter active pharmaceutical ingredient itself or the formulation. This article reviews the concept of perception of taste, various taste masking techniques available, selection of appropriate taste masking technique, and evaluation tests for taste masking.