The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given a nod to the first prescription drug that has been developed through 3-D printing. The tablet, meant for treatment of seizures in adults and children, will be a soluble.

The drug, named Spritam, has been developed by Aprecia Pharmaceuticals. The manufacturing involves a layered process using 3-D printing. A patient will have to take it with liquid.

According to officials at Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, an Ohio-based company, the drug doses of up to 1,000 milligrams can constitute single tablets. The drug will be available in markets in early 2016.

A spokesperson from the FDA confirmed the development. Once Spritam is launched, Aprecia will develop other medicines also using the same technology in the years ahead.

The powdered drug is manufactured by putting together several layered of the powder until 3D medicine appears. The extra powder left out is then blown away by the same printer.

The key advantage of 3D-printed drugs is that they can be changed according to the requirements and choice of specific patients.

It is a powdered drug. Three-dimensional printing has already found an acceptance in healthcare manufacturing segment. The 3D printing is already being used for creating the replicas for jaw and teeth for further development of dental implants.

The new 3D drug Spritam will bring new hopes for epilepsy patients. Officials' statistics reveal that over 3 million Americans have been diagnosed with epilepsy so far. These 3 millions also include 4, 60,000 children.