An Updated Review on: Medicated Chewing Gum - A Novel Drug Delivery System

Chewing gums are mobile drug delivery systems. Unlike chewable tablets medicated gums are not supposed to be swallowed and maybe removed from the site of application without resort to invasive means and medicated chewing gum MCG is solid, single dose preparation. It is a potentially useful means of administering drugs either locally or systemically via, the oral cavity. The medicated chewing gum has through the years gained increasing acceptance as a drug delivery system. Several ingredients are now incorporated in medicated chewing gum, e. g. Fluoride for prophylaxis of dental caries, chlorhexidine as local disinfectant, nicotine for smoking cessation, aspirin as an analgesic, and caffeine as astay alert preparation. In addition, a large number of chewing gum intended for prevention of caries, xerostomia alleviation, and vitamin, mineral supplementation are currently available. The objective of this systematic study is to appraise existing evidence concerning a possible therapeutic effect of sugar-free chewing gum for patients.