Pharmaceutical preparations
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
Every
drug whether natural or synthetic in origin needs to be transformed into a convenient form for administration into the
body of the patient. Such forms of the drugs are called as dosage forms.
These dosage forms or drug preparations can
be classified in various ways like mode of administration, physical
properties of the dispensed products, mechanical processes used, types of vehicle used etc. But for Pharmacology
students most useful way to classify dispensed products or dosage forms
is that based on mode of administration.
These dosage forms could be divided into three major groups :
I. Oral dosage forms
(a) Liquids : Aquas, mixtures, elixirs, syrups, linctuses, emulsions, tinctures, etc.
(b) Solids : Tablets, capsules, powders, pills,
lozenges, etc.
II. External
dosage forms
(a) Liquids : Drops, gargles, lotions, liniments, enematas,
paints, tinctures, etc.
(b) Solids : Suppositories, creams, ointments,
plasters, etc.
(c) Gas / vapour : Aerosols, sprays, etc.
III. Parenteral
dosage forms
(a) Liquids : Sterilized injectable solutions, sera, etc.
(b) Solids : Pellets.
Aerosol : It is a
suspension of fine, solid or liquid particles in a gas intended to apply drugs to the respiratory tract and skin.
Aqua (Aromatic Water) : Aromatic
water is medicated form of water which is
dilute, simple solution of volatile substances in water, mainly used as flavouring agent or vehicle.
Bolus (Ball) : It is a cylindrical mass of drugs, weighing about 2 ounces (60 g) and is about 2 1/2" long and 1/2
" in diameter, meant for administration
in large animals only.
Capsule : It is a preparation consisting of two small tube like containers
made of gelatin, usually used to hold nauseant or irritating drugs and is meant
for oral administration.
Cream : It is a soft
semi-solid emulsion meant for gentle rubbing over
the skin.
Decoction : It is an aqueous
solution of active principle(s) of crude drugs obtained by boiling them in
water.
Drops : These are
solutions of drugs that are instilled into ear, nasal cavities or conjuctiva
with the help of dropper.
Dusting powder : It is a free flowing, very fine powder of drug(s) for external use.
Electuary : It is a medicinal
paste intended to be smeared on the tongue,
lips and palates and has sugar, treacle or honey as the vehicle.
Elixir : It is an aromatic sweetened solution usually containing alcohol, often used as vehicle and to mask the
disagreeable odour and taste of many
drugs.
Emulsion : It is a mixture of two immiscible liquids in which one of
the liquids is finely divided by trituration and uniformly distributed in the other by means of an
emulsifying agent.
Enema (Enemata) : It is a
liquid medicinal preparation meant for administration
into the rectum.
Extract: It is a concentrated liquid, semi-liquid or solid
preparation in which the active
principles of vegetable or animal drugs is extracted with suitable solvent.
Gargle : It is an aqueous solution of drug(s) meant for gargling,
to prevent or treat throat infections. It is usually
dispensed in concentrated form from which directions for dilution with warm water before use is given.
Gel: It is an aqueous
colloidal suspension of the hydrated form of insoluble
medicaments.
Granules : These are small globular particles in which drug is mixed
with sugar, a flavouring agent and inert adjuvants, usually used for
administering drugs that possess unpleasant taste.
Glycerines (Glycerites) : These are solutions or mixtures of medicaments in glycerol
with or without addition of water.
Implants : These are solid discs or cylinders of
medicaments placed surgically into
tissues of the body so that drugs are absorbed continuously over long period.
Inhalation : It is a liquid preparation consisting of, or containing volatile substances used to relieve congestion and
inflammation of the respiratory
tract. Some are volatile at room temperature and may be inhaled
directly, others are put in hot water and vapours are inhaled.
Injection : It is a solution or suspension of drugs for parenteral administration.
Insufflation
: It
is a medicated dusting powder that is blown by an insufflator into regions such as
nose, throat, body cavities, ear, etc. to which it would be difficult to apply the powder directly.
Irrigation (Douche) : It is a solution of medicaments used for rinsing a body cavity to treat infections of
bladder, vagina, etc., and are
usually administered by a soft rubber or plastic tube.
Jelly : It is a transparent or translucent, non-greasy semi-solid preparation mainly used externally.
Linctus : It is a viscous, syrupy, liquid oral preparation having demulcent action on the mucosae of throat and is
usually prescribed for the relief of
cough.
Liniment : It is a liquid preparation of drug(s) in oil, alcohol or
soap meant for rubbing over the intact skin.
Liquor : It is a preparation of non-volatile
substance(s) generally in water. Alcohol;
oils and other solvents are also used in it.
Lotion : It is a liquid preparation of drugs usually in water meant
for external application without friction.
Lozenge (Troche) : It is a solid
medicinal preparation consisting mainly of sugar and gum used for putting into
the mouth and allowing it to dissolve in
saliva.
Mixture : It is a preparation in which drug(s)
are simply dissolved or suspended in
water for oral administration.
Mouth wash : It is similar to gargle, but is used for oral hygiene, to cleanse and deodorise the buccal cavity and to
treat infections of mouth.
Mucilage : It is a solution of gummy substances in water used for
suspending insoluble substances in mixtures (suspension) and for emulsification of oils (emulsions).
Ointment: It is a semi-solid medicinal
preparation in oily, fatty or paraffin bases
meant for local external application.
Paint: It is a liquid preparation of
substances in viscid solvent like glycerine and/or liquid paraffin for application to the skin or mucosae
usually with a soft brush.
Paste : It is a semi-solid preparation for external application
that differ from similar products in containing a high proportion of finely
powdered medicaments.
Pellet : It is a solid sterile body of drug(s) meant for
implantation in subcutaneous tissues by
incision.
Pessary : It is a solid medicated preparation for introduction into
the vagina, where it melts or dissolves and exerts a local action.
Pill: It is an oral dosage form which is
spherical, ovoid and usually sugar coated intended to be swallowed whole without being chewed.
Plaster : It is a thick pasty preparation of drug(s) spread over a
piece of linen and is meant for external application on the skin where at the body temperature it melts slightly
and becomes adhesive. The purpose
of plaster is to afford protection and mechanical support, to furnish an occlusive and maceration
action and, to bring medication in
close contact with skin.
Poultice : It is a soft semi-solid preparation
applied hot or cold for local
application of heat and moisture (fomentation) to decrease inflammation.
Powder : It is a dry preparation containing
finely divided particles usually meant for oral administration.
Sera : These are preparations of serum containing antibodies in
connection with the globulin fraction.
Solution : It is a liquid
preparation of non-volatile soluble drug(s) or liquids in suitable solvent.
Occasionally liquor is used in synonym with solution.
Spirit : It is an
alcoholic solution of volatile substances.
Spray : It is a
preparation of drug(s) in aqueous, alcoholic or glycerin containing media
usually applied to the mucosae of throat, nose and other parts of body with an
atomiser or nebuliser.
Suppository : It is a conical
or ovoid solid preparation for insertion into the rectum (also vaginal cavity
and urethral tract), where it melts, dissolves or disperses and exerts a local
or less often, a systemic effect.
Syrup : It is a liquid
preparation in which vehicle is concentrated aqueous solution of sucrose or
other sugar.
Tablet: It is a small
disc shaped medicated mass usually prepared by moulding or compression and
meant for oral administration.
Tincture : It is an
alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution containing active principles of vegetable
and animal drug(s). They are relatively weak compared to extracts.
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