DRUG DOSAGE FORMS

(DRUG PREPARATIONS)
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS (DRUG
PREPARATIONS)
- Tablets , Capsules, Powder - Syrups,
suspensions , Elixer - Aqueous
suspension, Emulsion - Ointment , Lotion,
cream - Suppository, pessary Aerosols
Injections
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS cot’d
Tablet: ► Powdered drug(s) compressed
into a disc Capsule: ► Soluble small
hollow container, usually made of gelatin
/glycerin used to enclose drug in powder,
granule or liquid form. ► May be used to
conceal a bitter taste
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS cont’d
Tablets & Capsule: Enteric coated tablet /
Capsules: ► coated with a substance that
will not dissolve until it reaches the small
intestine ► for drugs that are irritating to
stomach or to avoid any other adverse
effects in stomach e.g. Ibuprofen
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Tablets &
Capsule: Sustained-release tablet /
Capsule: for continuous release of small
doses of the drug over an extended time
period to duration of action dosing
frequency compliance
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS (DRUG
PREPARATIONS)
Powder: very fine particles of drug(s) for
internal or external use Effervescent
powder / tablet: ► Drug mixed with sodium
bicarbonate or citric acid. ► When mixed
with liquid, release carbon dioxide,
causing effervescence (BUBBLING)
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS (DRUG
PREPARATIONS)
Aqueous solutions: Drug(s) DISSOLVE in
----- WATER or NORMAL SALINE
Alcoholic solutions: Drug(s) DISSOLVE in
ALCOHOL
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Aqueous
solutions: e.g. Enemas administered
rectally for --- local -- or--- systemic effect
Gargles Mouth washes Nasal solutions
Otic solutions
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS (DRUG
PREPARATIONS)
Aqueous solutions: Syrup: aqueous
solution saturated with SUGAR usually
contain a flavoring agent that assists in
disguising the taste of the drug mixed in
syrup
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Alcoholic
solutions: Spirit or essence: Volatile drug
dissolved in alcohol. Elixir: Spirit that has
been sweetened and/or flavored. Tincture:
Solution made by extracting from the
CRUDE (plant or vegetable) source those
constituents of a drug that are soluble in
alcohol.
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Aqueous
suspension: Finely divided SOLID
PARTICLES (POWDERS) of a drug
suspended in a FLUID. They are NOT
DISSOLVED in the fluid.
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS (DRUG
PREPARATIONS)
Emulsion: A preparation of one LIQUID
distributed in small globules throughout
the body of a second LIQUID The
dispersed liquid is the discontinuous
phase, & the dispersion medium is the
continuous phase.
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS (DRUG
PREPARATIONS)
Emulsion: Oil-in-water emulsion Oil --- is
the --- dispersed liquid & aqueous solution
-- is the -- continuous phase. Water -in-oil
emulsion Aqueous solution -- is the –
dispersed phase & oil --- is the continuous
phase
 Ointment Drug or mixture of drugs added
to a semisolid base, such as petroleum
jelly or lanolin. Some ointments contain a
water soluble base. For local effects skin
eye - systemic effect transdermal
application (e.g., nitroglycerine)
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Lotion: Liquid
medicinal suspension applied externally.
Various lotions are designed for
protection, lubrication, cleansing, cooling,
or antipruritic effects. Cream: emulsions
that contain an aqueous base
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Suppository: ►
Drug mixed with a fatty base and molded
into shapes suitable for insertion into the
rectum, vagina, or urethra. ► A urethral
suppository is called a ---- bougie. ► A
vaginal suppository is called a pessary. ►
for a local or systemic effect.
 DRUG DOSAGE FORMS Aerosols:
Aerosols are particles dispersed in a gas,
the particles being small enough to remain
in suspension for a long time instead of
sedimenting rapidly under the influence of
gravity; the particles may be liquid (fog) or
solid (smoke)
 COMPOSITION OF TABLET Active
ingredient + other substances
Diluent: Binder: Lubricant: Disintegrator:
Coloring agent: Flavoring agent:
TOPICAL DRUG FORMS
 Solid topical dosage form
 Dusting powder
 It is a finely divided insoluble powder
containing ingredients such as talc, zinc
oxide or starch used on the skin or on
wounds especially for allaying irritation or
absorbing moisture, which discourage
bacterial growth and some used for their
lubricant properties.
 Semisolid topical dosage form
 Cream
 It is a semisolid emulsion formulation for
application to the skin or mucous
membranes. Water in oil (w/o) emulsion
type creams are less greasy and good
spreadability as comparison to ointments
whereas oil in water (o/w) emulsion
creams readily rub into the skin is termed
as vanishing cream and is readily removed
by water.
 Ointment
 It is a greasy semisolid preparation of
dissolved or dispersed drug. Ointment
bases influence topical drug bioavailability
due to their occlusive properties of the
stratum corneum, which enhances the flux
of drug across the skin and they affect
drug dissolution and drug partitioning
within or from the ointment to the skin,
respectively.
 Gel
 Gels are transparent or translucent
semisolid preparations of one or more
active ingredients in suitable hydrophilic or
hydrophobic bases. Gels may be clear or
opaque, and polar hydroalcoholic or
nonpolar. Gels are prepared by either a
fusion process or a special procedure
necessitated by the gelling agents,
humectants and preservatives
 Paste
 It is a stiff preparation containing a high
proportion of finely powdered solid such as
starch, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate and
talc. Pastes are less greasy than ointment.
Liquid topical dosage form

 Lotion
 A lotion is a low- to medium- viscosity
topical preparation intended for application
to unbroken skin. Lotions are applied to
external skin with bare hands, a clean
cloth, cotton wool or gauze and provide
cooling effects to the skin by evaporation
of solvents.
 Liniments
 The liniments are liquid or semiliquid
preparations meant for application to the
skin. Applied to skin with friction and
rubbing of the skin. They act as
rubefacient, soothing or stimulant. The
vehicle may be alcohol, oil or soap based.
Additives or pharmaceutical excipients
(nondrug component of dosage form)
 used as inactive ingredients in dosage
form or tools for structuring dosage forms.
-little or no therapeutic value but are useful
in the manufacturing and compounding of
various pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Some ideal properties or characteristics of
additives are: (1) they must be non-toxic,
(2) commercially available in acceptable
grade, (3) acceptably cheap, (4) physically
and chemically stable and (5) not be
contraindicated and must be color
 Some ideal properties or characteristics of
additives
 (1) they must be non-toxic
 (2) commercially available in acceptable
grade
 (3) acceptably cheap
 (4) physically and chemically stable
 (5) not be contraindicated and must be
color compatible
 Classification of additives according to
requirements or applications.

Classification of additives Purpose or applications of additives

Physical form providers • Provide them a certain physical form to the
formulations such as surfactants and
hydrocolloids.
Solvents/diluents/bases • They form the bulk of a formulation. •
Solvents used for dissolution of drugs. • Bases
are semisolid material used for formulation of
ointments.
Organoleptic additives • They make the formulation acceptable to the
human.
Formulation stabilizers/preservatives • Provide stability of the formulation against
various environmental or atmospheric
conditions such as temperature, pressure,
microorganisms etc.

• These are antimicrobial compounds

maintain chemical stability of the formulation.