CHAPTER OF THE LESSON

PERSPECTIVE IN PHARMACY / 1ST SEM MIDTERMS

Why Use Dosage Forms?

INTRODUCTION TO DOSAGE
FORMS
What is the difference between a dosage
chemical and a drug?
➔ Chemical - A substance composed
of chemical elements or obtained by
a chemical process.
➔ Drug - an agent intended for use in
the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or
prevention of disease in man or other
animals.
➔ Drug Forms - Drug substances are
seldom administered alone, but
rather as a part of a formulation in
combination with one or more
nonmedical agents that serve varied
and specialized pharmaceutical
functions.
Pharmaceutical Ingredients Can Serve
Several Functions
➔ Mechanism for the safe and
convenient delivery of accurate
➔ Protection of a drug substance from
destructive influences of atmospheric
oxygen or humidity
➔ Protection from influence of gastric
acid after oral administration
➔ To mask taste of offensive drugs.
➔ To provide liquid preparations of
substances that are either insoluble
or unstable
➔ To provide clear liquid dosage forms
➔ To provide time-controlled release of
drugs
➔ To provide optimal topical
administration.
➔ To provide for the insertion of a drug
into one of the body's orifices
➔ Provide for placement of drugs into
the blood stream
➔ Provide for lung inhalation of drugs

➔ Solubilize
➔ Suspend
➔ Thicken
➔ Dilute
➔ Emulsify
➔ Stabilize
➔ Preserve
➔ Color
➔ Flavor
➔ Fashion medicinal agents into
efficacious and appealing dosage
forms
➔ Secundum Atrem

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SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
➔ TABLET
◆ is a mixture of active
substances and excipients,
usually in powder form,
pressed or compacted into a
solid.
Coated Tablets
Reasons for coating:
➔ To protection of the active ingredients
from air, moisture, light
➔ To mask the unpleasant taste and
odor
➔ To improve appearance
➔ SUGAR COATED TABLETS
◆ Are tablets coated with sugar
to make it more palatable.
➔ FILM COATED TABLETS
◆ A tablet covered with a thin
layer of resin, polymer; and/or
plasticizers capable of
forming a film.
➔ ENTERIC COATED TABLETS
◆ Are tablets intended to resist
gastric fluid but disintegrate in
intestinal fluid.
➔ IMPLANT
◆ A small tablet that is prepared
for insertion under the skin by
giving a small surgical cut into
the skin which is stitched after
the insertion of the tablet.
◆ Must be sterile.
◆ The tablet provides a slow
and continuous release of
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drug over prolonged period of
time ranging from 3 to 6
months or even more. - ex.
Contraceptive pill
➔ MODIFIED RELEASE
◆ Are tablets intended to modify
the rate of release of the drug
into the gastrointestinal tract.
It prolongs the effect of drug
and also reduces the
frequency of administration of
drug
Uncoated Tablets
➔ EFFERVESCENT TABLETS
◆ The tablet that contains acid
substances and carbonate or
hydrogen carbonate that
react rapidly in the presence
pf water to release carbon
dioxide
➔ CHEWABLE TABLETS
◆ The tablet which is intended
to be broken and chewed in
between the teeth before
ingestion
➔ BUCCAL TABLETS
◆ Dissolved at the
cheeks/buccal of the mouth
for fast absorption
➔ SUBLINGUAL TABLETS
◆ The tablet are designed to be
dissolved under the tongue
for fast absorption.
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➔ TABLET AND CONE-SHAPED
SUPPOSITORIES
◆ The tablet are designed to be
inserted into the rectum
➔ TROCHES/LOZENGES
◆ A solid preparation that is
intended to dissolve or
disintegrate slowly in the
mouth
Preparations
➔ STANDARD COMPRESSED
◆ These are the standard
uncoated tablets made by
either direct compression or
wet granulation or dry
granulation or double
compaction.
➔ MULTIPLE COMPRESSED
◆ Are prepared by compressing
the fill material more than
once
◆ Also known as multiple
layered tablets or a tablet
within a tablet
Physical Appearance
➔ SCORED
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➔ UNSCORED
➔ CAPSULE
◆ is a small soluble container,
usually made of gelatin, that
encloses a dose of an oral
medicine or a vitamin.
◆ Soft and hard gelatin capsule
➔ THIN FILM
Thin-film drug delivery:
◆ is a process of delivering
drugs to the systemic
circulation via a thin film that
dissolves when in contact
with liquid, often referred to as
a dissolving film or strip.
◆ Similar in size, shape and
thickness to a postage stamp;
placing the strip on or under
the tongue or along the inside
of the cheek.
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proportion of sugar
and milk.
Bulk Powders

Divided Powders
➔ Medicated preparations provided to
the patient in bulk
➔ Usually contain non-potent ➔ Are packaged individually each dose
medicaments is separately wrapped in paper or
◆ ORAL sealed into a sachet
➔
◆ DENTRIFICES
Granules
● a preparation for
cleansing and
polishing the teeth; it ➔ Ex. Antibiotic Powders for
may contain a suspension
therapeutic agent,
such as fluoride, to LIQUID DOSAGE FORMS
inhibit dental caries.

◆ DOUCHES Aqueous Solutions

● Intended for the cavity
➔ which are the clear liquid
◆ DUSTING POWDERS
prescriptions, and are homogeneous
● Formulated in sifter-
in nature.
top
◆ WATERS
● The major ingredient
◆ INSUFFLATIONS
in most of the dosage
● These are medicated
forms.
powders designed to
● It is used both as a
be blown into the ear,
vehicle and as a
nose, throat or body
solvent for the desired
cavities by means of a
flavoring or medicinal
device known as an
● Ingredients. ex.
insufflator.
Bacteriostatic water,
Distilled water, Sterile
◆ TRITURATIONS
water
● is a preparation of a
drug by which the
◆ AROMATIC WATERS
finely powdered,
● Are medicated waters
medicinal substance
which are used as
is ground for a certain
flavoring agents, and
time in a mortar and
sometimes for their
pestle with a certain
medicinal values, like
cinnamon water.

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◆ AQUEOUS ACIDS ● Use for rinsing or

● Important in chemical washing the mouth to
and pharmaceutical reduce plaque,
manufacturing. gingivitis, dental
● Ex. Acetic acid, Nitric caries and stomatitis.
acid, and Hydrochloric
acid ◆ JUICES
● is prepared from fresh
◆ SOLUTIONS ripe fruit, is aqueous in
● Is a homogeneous character and is used
mixture composed of in making syrups
two or more which are employed
substance. as vehicles.
● Ex. Cherry juice
◆ DOUCHES Raspberry juice
● A liquid preparation
intended for cleansing
vaginal activity
Non-Aqueous Solutions

◆ ENEMAS
● The injection of liquid ➔ COLLODIONS
into the rectum ◆ are liquid preparations
through the anus for containing pyroxylin in a
cleansing, for mixture of ethyl ether and
stimulating ethanol.
evacuation of the ◆ are applied to the skin by
bowels, or for other means of a soft brush or other
therapeutic or suitable applicator and, when
diagnostic purposes. the ether and ethanol have
evaporated, leave a film of
◆ GARGLES pyroxylin on the surface.
● are aqueous solutions
frequently containing ➔ ALCOHOLIC
antiseptics, antibiotics ◆ Elixirs
and/or anesthetics ● re clear, pleasantly
used for treating the flavored, sweetened
pharynx and hydroalcoholic liquids
nasopharynx by intended for oral use.
forcing air from the ◆ Tinctures
lungs through the ● is an alcoholic extract
gargles which is held (e.g. of an herb) or
in the throat. solution of a non
◆ WASHES volatile substance

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(e.g. of iodine, saturated with the

mercurochrome.) product into the tooth
◆ Spirits cavity
● sometimes known as
essences, are ➔ MEDICATED SOLUTIONS FOR
alcoholic or VAPORIZATIONS
hydroalcoholic ◆ Inhalations
solutions of volatile ● are drugs or solutions
substances. or suspensions of one
or more drug
➔ GLYCERITES substances
◆ are solutions or mixtures of administered by the
medicinal substances in not nasal route or oral
less than 50% by weight of respiratory route for
glycerin. either a local or
systemic effect.
➔ SPRAYS ◆ Inhalants
◆ Are preparations intended to ● consists of drugs or
be sprayed on the bad area combinations of drugs
that, by virtue of their
➔ OLEAGINOUS high vapor pressure,
◆ Liniments can be carried by an
● are solutions or air current into the
mixtures of various nasal passage where
substances in oil, they exert their effect.
alcoholic solutions of ◆ Insufflations
soap or emulsions
and may contain ➔ SWEET OR VISCID SOLUTIONS
suitable antimicrobial ◆ Syrups
preservatives ● It is a thick, viscous
◆ Oleovitamins liquid, containing a
● are fish-liver oils large amount of
diluted with edible dissolved sugars.
vegetable oil or ◆ Honeys
solutions of the ● Are thick liquid
indicated vitamins or preparations
vitamin concentrates somewhat allied to the
in fish liver oil. syrups, differing in
◆ Toothache Drops that honey, instead of
● are preparations used syrup, is used as
for temporary relief of base.
toothache by ◆ Mucilages
application of a small ● are thick, viscid,
pledget of cotton adhesive liquids,

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produced by gels mainly in that the

dispersing gum in suspended particles
water, or by extracting are larger.
the mucilaginous
principles from ◆ LOTIONS
Vegetable substances ● are either liquid or
with water. semiliquid
● Ex. Acacia mucilage, preparations that
Tragacanth mediluge contain one or more
◆ Jellies active ingredients in
● are a class of gels in an appropriate
which the structural vehicle.
coherent matrix
contains a high ◆ MIXTURES
portion of liquid, ● are oral liquids
usually water. containing one or
● Lidocaine more active
hydrochloride jelly ingredients,
dissolved, suspended
or dispersed in a
MIXTURES
suitable vehicle.

Suspensions
Emulsions

➔ is a two-phase system consisting of a

finely divided solid dispersed in a
solid, liquid or gas.
◆ GELS
● are semisolid systems
consisting of either
suspensions made up
of small inorganic
particles or large
inorganic molecules
interpenetrated by a
liquid.
◆ MILK AND MAGMAS
● are aqueous
suspensions of
insoluble, inorganic
drugs and differ from
➔ is a two-phase system prepared by
combining two immiscible liquids,
one of which is dispersed uniformly
throughout the other and consists of
globules that have diameters equal to
or greater than those of the largest
colloidal particles.
SEMI-SOLIDS
➔ OINTMENTS
◆ are semisolid preparations
for external application to the
body.

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➔ CREAMS
◆ are viscous liquid or
semisolid emulsions of either
O/W or W/O type.
● O/W Type = Shaving
creams, hand creams
and foundation
creams.
● W/O Type = Cold
creams and Emollient
creams.
STERILE PREPARATIONS
Parenteral
➔ INTRADERMAL
◆ Between the epidermis and
subcutaneous tissue
➔ INTRAOSSEOUS
◆ Is the process of injection
directly into the marrow of
the bone
➔ INTRAPERITONEAL
◆ Is the injection of a substance
into the peritoneum (body
cavity)

➔ SUBCUTANEOUS
➔ Dosage forms which are intended for ◆ Is the injection just beneath
administration using a hypodermic the skin
(hollow pointed) needle.
➔ Discovered by Dr. A Wood in 1853.
Ophthalmic
Available as ampules, and vials with
rubber head.
➔ It is prepared as solutions, emulsions ➔ Are sterile products essentially free
from foreign particles, suitably
or suspensions which MUST BE:
compounded and packaged for
◆ Sterile - free of
instillation into the eye.
microorganisms
(microbiological tests)
Otic
◆ Pyrogen-free - pyrogens
are agents that could cause
fever ➔ A sterile products essentially free
◆ Isotonic – NaCl usually as from foreign particles, suitably
compounded and packaged for
the additive
instillation into the ear.
➔ INTRAVENOUS
◆ is the giving of liquid
Nasal Preparation
substances directly into a
vein.
➔ Are usually aqueous solutions
➔ INTRAMUSCULAR designed to be administered to the
◆ Is the injection of a substance nasal passages in drops or sprays.
directly into a muscle

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Irrigating Solutions

➔ Are used to wash or bathe surgical

inclusions, wounds or body tissues.
.

AEROSOLS

➔ Are products which depend upon the

power of a liquefied or compressed
gas to dispense the active
ingredient(s) in a finely dispersed
mist, foam or semisolid.

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