Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Drug Delivery Systems and Medical Devices
Simple Syrup
Simple Syrup
Syrup
- Concentrated solution of a sugar (or any
sugar substitute) usually sucrose in water
- Can be with flavoring agent or a medicinal
agent
Kinds of Syrup
Simple Syrup
- Concentrated solution of sucrose (or any
sugar substitute) in purified water.
- Placed in a flint bottle and silviscous
(yellowish viscous substance)
Medicated Syrup
- Aqueous liquid of sucrose that contains
pharmaceutically active ingredients and has
therapeutic effects
- Syrup has pleasant means of administering
a liquid form which is disagreeable in taste,
which the sugar masks
- Purpose of medicated syrup is to mask the
unwanted taste of the pharmaceutical
substance (medicine)
- Effective in administering drug especially to
the children
- Vitamins and supplements are also
considered a medicinal syrup
Example:
● Tempra forte
● Enervon syrup
● Bisolvon duo syrup
● Cherifer forte syrup
Flavored Syrup
- Contains aromatic and pleasantly flavored
substance and is intended as a vehicle of
flavor for prescription
- It does not contain an active ingredient
Syrups are divided into 2 – the non medicated and
the medicated syrups.
M
Methods of Preparation
Agitation (with heat)
- Sucrose is added to water and heated until
solution is effected
- Advantage: fast
- Disadvantage: excessive heating will cause
inversion of sucrose → glucose + fructose
(sweetener, with an increase tendency to
ferment)
- caramelize, yellowish to brownish in color
Agitation without heat
- Disadvantage: slower
- Advantage: For substance that are heat
sensitive
Example:
● pagtunaw ng asukal sa tubig
● pag lagay ng asukal sa kape
Percolation
- Permits the purified water to pass slowly
through a bed of crystalline sucrose to
dissolve it
- Materials and process:
● Water
● Marble (washed sand) - to prevent filter
from floating
● Filter paper (muslin cloth) - to prevent holing
of sugar with water, to dissolve evenly
● Sucrose
● Cotton: not to tight → hinders percolation;
not to loose → allows passage of unpacked
sugar.
● Allows 60 drops per minute
● Clean and dry erlenmeyer flask (mug)
● Evaporating dish - to prevent attacks of ants
(bowl)
● Aluminum foil - covers the top
● All connections should be completely closed
Addition of sucrose to medicated liquid
(extemporaneous mixtures)
- Mixing tank is used for this preparation
Definition of Simple Syrup
Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Drug Delivery Systems and Medical Devices M
Simple Syrup

- A good syrup has a specific gravity of nlt.

1.33 and the concentration should be 85%
w/v or 65% w/w (USP pharmacopeia).
● 60%-80% concentration makes the syrup
self preserving
● ↓ 60% concentration prone to microbial
growth
● ↑ 85% concentration can crystallize the
sucrose present (lesser tendency of
microbial growth)

Syrup based from British pharmacopoeia

contains 66.7% w/w of sucrose and the solute is
33.3% w/w.

Components of Simple Syrup

Most syrups contain the following components in
addition to the purified water and any medicinal
agents present
1. The sugar, usually sucrose, or sugar
substitute (responsible for sweetness and
viscosity) Antimicrobial preservatives
2. Flavorants
3. Colorants
4. Many types of syrups contain special
solvents, solubilizing agents, thickeners, or
stabilizers