Dosage Forms

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DOSAGE FORMS

 Dosage forms
 Introduction to dosage forms
 classification
 definitions
Drug: According to WHO A Drug is defined as an any substance intended for use in the
diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or animals.
Dosage Form (DF) is defined as the physical form of a dose of a chemical compound used as
a drug or medication intended for administration or consumption. Common dosage forms
include pill, tablet, or capsule, drink or syrup, aerosol or inhaler, liquid injection, and natural
or herbal form such as plant or food of sorts, among many
The route of administration (ROA) for drug delivery is dependent on the dosage form the
substance.
• Dosage form (medicine) = API + Excipients
• Drug (API)
• Excipients (binders, lubricants, sweetener, preservatives etc.)
These dosage forms are classified in a number of ways as mentioned below by which drug
molecules are delivered to the site of action.
1. Form wise
(i) Solid dosage form
(ii) Liquid dosage form
(iii) Semi-solid dosage form
2. Route wise:
(i) Oral dosage form
(ii) Topical dosage form
(iii) Parenteral dosage form
3. Release rate:
(i) Sustained release
(ii) Prolonged release
(iii) Controlled release
(iv) Targetted drug delivery

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1. Aromatic water: They are saturated aqueous solution of volatile oils or other aromatic or
volatile substances. e.g. Camphor water, concentrated Peppermint water. Mainly used as
flavouring agent. e.g. Strong rose water, orange flower water.
2. Cachets: They are solid dosage form meant for oral administration of nauseous and
disagreeable drug substances.
3. Tinctures: Tinctures are sweet viscous liquid oral preparation containing medical
substances which have demulcent, sedative or expectorant preparation.
4. Spirits: Spirits are alcoholic or hydro alcoholic solution of volatile oils which are used
internally for their medicinal values and flavoring agent. Spirit may also applied externally or
used by inhalation. e.g., Aromatic spirit of ammonia.
5. Proof spirits: They are defined as mixture of alcohol and water which is 51°F weight
12/13th of an equal volume of water. The strength of alcoholic preparation are medicated by
degrees, over proof (o/p) or under proof (u/p). Any alcoholic solution which contain 57.1%
v/v alcohol is a proof spirit and said to be 100 proof.
6. Elixirs: Elixirs are clean liquid, oral alcoholic preparation contain potent and nauseous drugs
which are plenty flavoured and usually attractive coloured. They are more stables than mixture.
Classification
(a) Non medicated elixir e.g. Compound benzaldehyde elixir.
(b) Medicated elixir e.g. Chlorpheniramine, Chloral hydrate
7. Syrups: Syrups are concentration aqueous preparation of sugar or sugar substances. with or
without flavoring agent and medical substances.

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(a) Medicated Syrup
(b) Flavoured Syrup
Syrup IP is 66.7% w/w solution of sucrose where as syrup USP is 85% w/v or 64.74% w/w
solution of sucrose in purified water.
8. Droughts: Droughts are oral liquid preparation meant to take as a single dose. A single dose
of mixture is usually known as draught.e.g. Paraldehyde drought: oxidizes to acetic acid on
storage leads to death.
9. Drops: Drops are liquid oral preparation of potent drugs or vitamin which are given in to
original form without dilution.
10. Ear drops: They are liquid preparations meant for instillation in to ear. In these
preparations, the drug is usually dissolved or suspended in a suitable solvent such as propylene
glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerol, alcohol and water or a mixture of these. Aqueous vehicle
is generally not preferred because the secretions in the ear are fatty in nature and as such these
do not mix with water.
11. Eye drops: They are aqueous and oily solutions or suspensions of one or more active
ingredients for instillation in to the eye sac. These are sterile free from foreign. particles and
irritating effect. They contain auxiliary substance such as isotonicity agent, buffers,
antioxidant, stabilisers and preservatives.
They are Categorised in to number of various types:
 Liquid preparation for application to the surface of eye. e.g., Eye drops, lotions.
 Semisolid dosage forms eg.. Ointment, Cream, gels.
 Parenteral products for sub-conjunctival or Intraocular injection.
 Solid dosage form intended to be placed in contact with surface of eye e.g., ocusert.
12. Ointments: Ointments are semisolid preparation indented to adhere to the skin or certain
mucous membranes. Ointment bases are often anhydrous and include fats, oils and waxes of
animal vegetable or mineral origin.
13. Eye Ointment: These are sterile semi-solid preparations of homogeneous appearance
intended for application to the conjunctiva or margins of eyelids. They contain one or more
active ingredients dissolved and dispersed in a suitable base like soft paraffin, liquid paraffin
and wool fat. They contain suitable amount of antioxidant, stabilizers and antimicrobial
preservatives
14. Gargles: These are concentrated aqueous solutions which are diluted with warm water in
prophylaxis or for treating throat infections.KCI is included in gargle preparation for its weak
astringent effect. Gargle differs from mouth washes because they are light medicated oral
mixture which is to be diluted with water before use.
e.g. Phenol gargle
15. Creams: Creams are viscous semisolids are usually o/w emulsions (aqueous Creams) or
w/o emulsions (oily creams).

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16. Gels: Gels are transparent or translucent semisolid or solid preparations, consisting of
solution of one or more active ingredients in suitable hydrophilic or hydrophobic bases.
17 Pastes: They are semi-solid preparations for topical application that differ from similar
product in containing higher proportions of finely divided medicaments. Bases are liquid
paraffin/glycerol.
18. Poultices: It consists of moistened masses of vegetable materials or clay that are sometimes
heated before application.
Penetration enhancers: e.g. Sulphoxides, amides, surfactants, pyrrolidones, calcium
thioglycerate, propylene glycol.
19. Tablets: Solid unit dosage from intended to be administered in to the oral cavity. They are
prepared either by moulding or by compression methods. Tablets are swallowed whole and
some after being chewed, some are dissolved or dispersed in water before administration and
some are retained in the mouth where the active ingredients are liberated.
20. Capsules: Capsules are solid dosage form usually containing one dose of drug enclosed
within a small water soluble shell of a suitable form of gelatin.
 They are of two types hard gelatin and soft gelatin capsules.
 Hard gelatin capsules are generally used for filling solid medicaments although liquid
can also be filled by incorporating suitable excipients in the formulation. They contain
a body and a cap made up of gelatin, water plasticizer and preservatives.
 Soft gelatin capsules are used for filling solids, liquids as well as semisolids. They
contain large amount of plasticizers as compared to hard gelatin capsules which provide
flexibility to the shell.
21. Pastilles: Pastilles are solid medicated preparations intended to dissolve slowly in
the mouth similar to lozenges. e.g. Squill pastilles, Menthol and Eucalyptus pastilles.
22. Pessaries: Pessaries are solid dosage forms meant for introduction in to the vagina
where they melt or dissolve and exert a local action. They are also known as vaginal
suppositories. e.g. Pessaries of Clotrimazole, Nystatin.
23. Pills: Pills are small, round solid dosage forms containing one or more active.
ingredients meant for oral administration. e.g. Phenolphthalein pills.
24. Paints: Paints are solutions or dispersions of one or more active ingredients
intended for application to the skin or mucosa of mouth and throat usually with the
help of a soft brush or a cotton swab. Throat paints are generally more viscous due to
a high content of glycerine which being sticky. For example, compound paint of
Iodine Throat Paint (Mandles Paint), crystal violet paint etc.
25. Linctuses: They are viscous, sweet, liquid oral preparations that are usually
prescribed for the relief of cold. Sometimes, glycerine which in addition to give sweet
taste to the preparation have a demulcent action on the mucous membranes of the
throat. E.g. Codeine linctus, tolu linctus.

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26. Liniments: They are liquid or semi-liquid preparations meant for application to unbroken
skin by applied on lint or other suitable material and placed on the affected part. Liniments
should never be applied to the skin areas that are broken. E.g. camphor liniment, turpentine
liniment.
27. Lotions: Lotions are liquid or semi-liquid preparations meant for application to unbroken
skin without friction. They are either dabbed on the skin or applied on a suitable dressing and
covered with water proof material to reduce evaporation. Lotions generally contain antiseptic,
anaesthetics, protectives for prevention or treatment of various skin diseases. e.g. calamine
lotion, hydrocortisone lotion.
28. Lozenges: Lozenges are solid dosage forms containing medicaments in a sweetened and
flavoured base intended to dissolve slowly in the mouth. Lozenges do not disintegrate in the
mouth but dissolve slowly liberating the active ingredients which may be an antiseptic, local
anaesthetic, antibiotic, analgesic. They are also known as Troches.
29. Mouth washes: Mouth washes are aqueous solutions containing one or more active
ingredients for use in contact with the mucous membrane of the oral cavity usually after
dilution with warm water. They contain additives such as alcohol, glycerine, synthetic
sweeteners, surfactant, flavouring and colouring agents. They are used for cleansing,
Refreshing , etc. They may be either acidic or basic in their reaction and in some instances are
fairly effective in reducing bacterial concentration and odours in the mouth for short periods of
time.
30. Nasal drops: They are solutions, suspensions or emulsions containing active ingredients
intended for instillation in to the nostrils usually with the help of a dropper. Oily vehicles are
usually not preferred since the oil may retard the ciliary action of the mucosa and may even
cause lipoid pneumonia if drops of the oil enter the lungs.
31. Nasal sprays: They are suspensions or solution of drugs intended for spraying in to the
nostrils. The chief uses of nasal sprays are to relieve nasal congestion and inflammation and to
treat infections. These preparations are usually supplied in pressurized containers or plastic
squeeze bottles.

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