Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Drug Delivery Systems and Medical Devices
Elixirs
Non- Aqueous Liquids: Elixirs
Definition
What are elixirs?
- Clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic intended
for oral use containing flavoring substance
or active medicinal agent.
- Primary solvents are water and alcohol
- Glycerin, sorbitol and syrup – additional
solvent or sweetening agents.
Types
Medicated Elixirs
- with active pharmaceutical ingredients
Example:
● Acetaminophen elixir, hyoscyamine elixir
and Digoxin elixir
Non-Medicated Elixirs
- Used for extemporaneous filling of
prescriptions. Can be used as a flavored
vehicle or used to dilute existing medicated
elixir.
Example:
● Aromatic Elixir, iso-alcoholic elixir and
compound benzaldehyde
Purified Water, USP
- Most common solvent used
● Lacks toxicity.
● Compatible and can dissolve most of the
ingredients used as pharmacologic agents.
● The only disadvantage water has is its
prone to microbial growth/ microbial
contamination.
- Purified water is mostly used in drug
preparation with the exemption for
parenteral products such as injections the
water used here is water for injection.
● pH 5-7
● Methods of manufacture: distillation, reverse
osmosis, ion exchange treatment
M
Alcohol, USP
- 94.9 – 95% Ethanol/ Ethyl alcohol.
- Primary solvent for organic compounds.
- Used if the ingredients are not soluble in
water.
● Miscible with water, glycerin and propylene
glycol.
● It is volatile in nature.
- 10-12% self-preserving
- 5-40% (limit) - Used as vehicle or for their
therapeutic effect
Propylene Glycol
- Can be used as a cosolvent or additional
solvent.
- Miscible with water and alcohol.
- Viscous liquid - Can be a substitute for
glycerin and alcohol
Method of Preparation
Agitation with aid of Heat
- Simple solution with agitation.
Admixture of 2 or more liquids
- Since in the preparation of elixirs alcohol is
always used it is said that pharmacists tend
to prevent the use of heat in preparing the
elixir since alcohol is known to be volatile in
nature.
Iso-alcoholic Elixir
- Iso-alcoholic elixir
- Non medicated elixir
Uses
- General vehicle for various medicaments
that requires solvent of different alcohol
strength
Method Used for the Preparation
- Admixture of 2 or more liquids