DRUG

CLASSIFICATIONS
 ORPHAN DRUGS
✔ Drugs that have been discovered but are not
financially viable and therefore have not been
“adopted” by any drug company.
✔ It may be useful in treating a rare disease, or
they may have potentially dangerous adverse
effects.
✔ These are often abandoned after preclinical
trials or phase I studies.
 OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS
✔ Products that are available without
prescription for self-treatment of a variety
of complaints.
✔ OTC drugs have been found to be safe
when taken as directed, nurses should
consider several problems related to OTC
drug use:
 OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS
1. Taking these drugs could mask the signs
and symptoms of underlying disease,
making diagnosis difficult.
2. Taking these drugs with prescription
medications could result in drug interactions
and interfere with drug therapy.
3. It could result in serious overdoses.
 GENERIC DRUGS
✔ These are drugs no longer
protected by patent and can be
produced by companies other
than the one that developed
it.
OTHER WAYS TO
CLASSIFY DRUGS
BODY SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION
✔ It answer the question, “Which
system of the body is the drug for?”
✔ Examples include drugs intended
for the cardiovascular system,
respiratory, genitourinary,
gastrointestinal etc.
 THERAPEUTIC USE/
CLINICAL INDICATION
✔ It answer the question, “What
disease or illness is being treated”
✔ Examples include drugs intended
for diabetes, hypertension, kidney
problems etc.
 PHYSIOLOGICAL/
CHEMICAL ACTION
✔ It answer the question, “What
does the drug do in the body”
✔ Examples include drugs to reduce
cholesterol, lower down blood
pressure, relieve pain, etc.
PRESCRIPTION / NONPRESCRIPTION
✔ It answer the question, “Does the
medication require a prescription or can
be availed OTC?”
✔ Examples include prescription drugs such
as for hypertension, anti-cancer drugs or
nonprescriptions drugs such as some pain
relievers, supplements, etc.
 ILLEGAL DRUGS
✔ It answer the question, “Is the
drug use for non therapeutic
reasons?”
✔ Examples include some controlled
substances such as cannabis.
DRUG FORMS/
PREPARATIONS
1. SOLID FORMS
✔ The entire dose is contained in
the preparation minimizing
measuring errors.
✔ Difficult to swallow, slower onset
and may be degraded by acidic
content of the stomach.
 TABLET / CAPLET
✔ The active ingredient is
combined with another substance
and pressed into a round or oval
solid shape.
✔ Soluble or dispersible tablets
can safely be dissolved in water.
 TABLET / CAPLET
✔ Buccal or Sublingual Tablets
These are held in the cheek
(buccal) or underneath the
tongue (sublingual) so the mouth
lining absorbs the active
ingredient.
 FORMS OF TABLET
A.) Chewable Tablets - designed
to be chewed and contain a base
that is flavored or colored.
✔ Covenient for patients who
have difficulty swallowing tablets.
B.) Oral Disintegrating Tablets (ODT) -
designed to dissolve in the mouth
without water; useful for pedia and
geriatric clients who have difficulty
swallowing and for those who are
experiencing nausea and vomitting.
✔ Can not be “cheeked” by patients who
are not compliant with the drug regimen.
C.) Enteric- Coated Tablets - with
coating to mask the unpleasant flavor or
odor, and to protect the drug from the
stomach contents.
✔ The coat prevents dissolution in the
stomach and are meant to dissolve in the
intestines.
✔ Protects as well the stomach lining with the
effects of the drug (i.e. KCl and ASA)
D.) Film- Coated Tablets - are
coated with a thin outer layer of water
soluble material that dissolves rapidly
in the stomach.
✔ The coat is designed to cover the
unpleasant taste or smell and protect
sensitive drugs from deterioration due
to air and light (i.e. Erythromycin).
E.) Sugar- Coated Tablets -
are coated with outside layer of
sugar that protects the
medication and improves the
taste and the appearance of the
medication.
 CAPSULES
✔ The active part of the medicine is
contained inside a plastic shell (transparent,
semi-transparent, or opaque) that dissolves
slowly in the stomach.
✔ It contains liquid, powder, granule, or
crushed tablet and are formulated with
delayed-release characteristics to allow for
less-frequent dosing and or side effects.
 FORMS OF CAPSULES
A.) Spanules - capsules that are filled
with granules that dissolves at different rates, in
effect causing sustained-release of the active
ingredient.
B.) Sprinkle Capsule - similar to
spanules but unique in that it is designed to be
pulled apart and the contents are sprinkled into
foods.
 Dosage
Formulations to
Designed to Alter
Rate of Release
1. Immediate- Release Formulation
✔ The medication is released within a
short period of time after the drug is
taken.
2. Delayed- Release Formulation
✔ The release of the medication is extended
or delayed until it has passed through the
stomach.
3. Controlled- Release Formulation
✔ It regulate the rate of release of the
active ingredient.
✔ They are designed to vary the
dissolution rate or release of the active
drug.
✔ Also referred to as long-acting and
timed-released formulations.
4. Sustained- Release Formulation
✔ It allows the frequency of the
dosing to be reduced compared to
that of immediate- release dosage
forms.
5. Extended- Release Formulation
✔ The active ingredient is released at
a constant rate for a prolonged period
so that the frequency of dosing is less
than the immediate-release dosage form.
✔ Usually for once daily dosing and the
medication is available over an
extended period of time.
❖ Compared to immediate-release
preparations, advantages of extended-
release dosage forms include the following:
✔ Constant drug level following long-term
administration
✔ Reduction of side effects
✔ Reduction in administration frequency
✔ Increased patient compliance
LOZENGES / TROCHES / PASTILLES

✔ Identified as flat, hard, oval, or

discoid disks containing a
medicinal agent in a suitable
flavoured base which is held in
the mouth to dissolve slowly.
 POWDERS
✔Consists of fine mineral dusts such as talc
and are applied by dusting.
✔ This is used to absorb moisture from the
skin thereby altering conditions favorable
to the growth of microorganisms.
✔ It can be used internally and should be
dissolved in water prior to ingestion.
 GRANULES
✔ Larger than powders and are wetted,
allowed to dry, and ground into
coarse, irregularly shaped pieces.
✔ More stable than powders and are
more suitable in solutions because
they will less likely to float in liquids.
2. SEMI SOLID FORMS
✔ They come in tubs, bottles or
tubes depending on the type of
medicine.
✔ The active part of the medicine is
mixed with another substance,
making it easy to apply to the skin.
✔ These are creams, lotions or ointments
applied directly onto the skin (topical
application).
✔ Maybe placed in nasal, vaginal, rectal,
and anorectal cavities.
✔ The dosage are too thick not to be
considered a liquid form and not solid
enough to be considered solid form.
 EMULSIONS
✔ A type of semi-solid dosage form wherein a
mixture is unblendable.
✔ One substance is dispersed in the other.
✔ An Oil-in-Water (O/W) emulsion contains
small amount of oil dispersed in water.
✔ A Water-in-Oil (W/O) emulsion contains
small amount of water dispersed in oil.
EMULSIFYING AGENT
✔ A chemical that is used to bind
subtances that normally do not
mix.
✔ It has water-loving and oil-
loving properties that keep oil and
water together.
 OINTMENTS
✔ Applied externally to the skin or mucous
membranes or can be formulated and sterilized
for use in the eyes.
✔ It is an example of water-in-oil emulsion.
✔ It contain medication in a glycol or oil base
and can effectively cover the skin.
✔ Generally greasier and can leave oily residue
at the site of application.
 CREAMS
✔ It contains suspension or solutions of drug
intended for external use.
✔ An example of oil-in-water emulsion and can
easily be massaged into the skin without leaving
oily residue.
✔ It can be formulated for vaginal or rectal use.
✔ Examples include hydrocortisone cream, benzoyl
peroxide cream, and betamethasone valerate
cream.
 LOTIONS
✔ An oil-in-water emulsion that is thinner
than a cream because it contains more
water.
✔ It can penetrate in the skin and can cover
large areas without leaving an oily residue.
✔ Examples are calamine lotion and
hydrocortisone lotion.
 GELS
✔ Contain solid medication like a suspension in
a thick liquid that can be used internally or
externally.
✔ Particles are ultrafine and form semisolid.
✔ Can penetrate the skin without leaving
residue.
✔ Examples are aluminum hydroxide gel and
benzocaine gel.
 PASTES
✔ It contains more solid material
and less liquid base than a solid.
✔ They are like ointments, but
stiffer, less greasy, and applied
more thickly.
✔ An example is zinc oxide.
 SUPPOSITORIES
✔ The active part of the medicine is combined
with another substance and pressed into a
“bullet shape” so it can be inserted in the anal,
rectal, vaginal or urethral area and melts in a cavity,
releasing the medication.
✔ It can be for local action and vehicle for systemic
drugs.
✔ Suppositories must not be swallowed.
✔ Used for children with difficulty taking oral
medications.
✔ Rectal suppositories by- pass stomach and
helpful to patients with nausea and vomitting.
✔ Used to treat inflammatory bowel disease
or pain.
✔ Vaginal suppositories are for yeast infections
and vaginal athropy.
✔ Examples are miconazole (vaginal) and
bisacodyl (rectal) suppositories.
3.) LIQUID FORMS
✔ The active part of the medicine
is combined with a liquid to
make it easier to take or better
absorbed.
✔It is also called a “mixture”,
“solution” or “syrup”.
 DROPS
✔ These are often used where the
active part of the medicine works
best if it reaches the affected
area directly.
✔ They tend to be used for eye, ear
or nose.
 SOLUTIONS
✔ A homogenous mixture of
solute and solvent where it is
in aqueous (water-based),
alcoholic or hydroalcoholic
form.
A.) Aromatic Solution
✔ Aqueous solution that contains oil or
other volatile substance. They usually have
pleasant smell.
B.) Elixir
✔ It is a clear, sweet solution that contains
dissolved medication in a base of water and
ethanol (hydroalcoholic).
C.) Syrup
✔ Sugar-based solution that may masked
the taste of the drug.
D.) Extract
✔ It is a powder or liquid derived from
animal or plant sources in which all or
most of the solvent has been evaporated.
E.) Tincture
✔ An alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution
that contains plant extract.
F.) Spirit
✔ It is an alcoholic or hydroalcoholic
solution that contains volatile, aromatic
ingredients.
G.) Irrigating Solution
✔ A solution that is used for
cleansing an area of the
body.
 DISPERSIONS
✔ The medication is not dissolved in
a liquid but is “dispersed”
throughout.
SUSPENSION- a mixture of
undissolved, fine, solid particles
throughout the solid, liquid, or gas.
AQUEOUS SUSPENSION- a
mixture of medication in which
solids are dispersed in a water
medium.
NOTE: Suspension needs to be
shaken before use and must have
“shake well” auxillary label.
INJECTABLE
SUSPENSION
✔ allows insoluble drugs to be
administered using a syringe.
✔ Often used for depot
therapy- the drug is released
✔ Subcutaneous or SC injections
are given just under the surface of
the skin.
✔ Intramuscular or IM injections
are given into a muscle.
✔ Intrathecal injections are given
into the fluid around the spinal
cord.
✔ Intravenous or IV injections are
given into a vein.
 ENEMAS
✔ Deliver medications rectally, a way
that by-passes the stomach.
✔ Water-based medication used to
evacuate intestinal contents as a
preparation for surgeries and
examinations of the intestines.
4. INHALATION FORMS
✔ The active part of the
medicine is released under
pressure directly into the
lungs via the nose or mouth.
 AEROSOLS
✔ It is a spray that contains very
fine liquid or solid particles in a
gas propellant that is packaged
under pressure.
✔ It has a rapid onset of action
 SPRAYS
✔ It consists of a container that has a
valve assembly unit that contains
various bases, such as alcohol or
water, in pump-type dispenser.
✔ When activated, it emits fine liquid,
solid or gaseous material.
5. TRANSDERMAL FORMS
Patch or Disk
✔ Designed to hold medication to be released in
the skin and absorbed into the blood stream.
✔ It contains backing, drug reservoir, control
membrane and adhesive layer.
✔ Drugs are absorbed slowly, easily applied, and
minimized stomach upset.
✔ Examples are nitroglycerine,
fentanyl, scopolamine, and
nicotine for their systemic effects.
Note: Gels are also in transdermal
forms which are slowly absorbed in
the skin.
 IMPLANTS
✔ Placing a drug form or a device
in the desired site by insertion in
a body tissue or cavity by surgical
or appropriate insertion
techniques.