Problem of the Month: September 2026

Montelukast Problem Highlights Lubricant Blending

Montelukast tablets immediately after compression

What happened here? Uneven lubrication of the tablet has resulted in ejection issues with this square tablet. There is a myth that each and every particle in a tablet has to be lubricated in order for it to eject from the die cleanly.

This is in fact totally untrue.

But on the other hand, under lubrication can also be an issue. Some tablets eject nicely while others do not.

Just as we see here.

So if in reviewing your master batch records, if you see that all of the batches having the same weight also have exactly the same lubrication times, something cannot be correct.