LIQUID DOSAGE FORM:

• The liquid dosage forms, whether for internal, parenteral or external use may be either
monophasic or biphasic products.
• Monophasic products are represented by true or colloidal solutions and solubilised preparations.
They are appeared to be similar in physical appearance and consists of only one phase. They may
have water as the solvent or may be occasionally based on some other liquids.
• The biphasic products are exemplified by emulsions or suspensions and consists of two phases.
In emulsions generally both the phases are liquids, while in suspensions the continuous phase is
liquid and the dispersed phase is finely divided solids.
• Liquid preparations are easy to swallow and thus more useful for pediatrics and geriatrics.
• On the other hand drug in soluble state is chemically less stable than its insoluble state.
• Monophasic dosage forms are available as:

1. Liquid for internal use, Eg: Syrups, Elixirs, Linctus, drops and draughts.

2. Liquids for external use, which are of two types:

A. Liquid to be applied to the skin, eg: liniments and lotions.

B. Liquids for body cavities. Eg: Gargles, throat paints, mouth washes, eye drops, eye lotions, ear
drops, nasal drops, spray and inhalations.

Liquid for internal use:

Syrups:
• Syrups are sweet and viscous aqueous preparations. Simple syrup is a saturated solution of
sucrose in purified water. The concentration of sucrose used is 66.7 % w/w (as per Indian
Pharmacopoeia, IP). They are either flavoring syrups (syrups containing aromatic or flavored
substances) and medicated syrups (Syrup containing medicinal substances).
• Syrups are used for formulating antibiotics, antitussives, antihistaminic, sedatives, vitamins etc.
• Most syrups are aqueous solutions of sucrose or dextrose. Artificial syrups are also in the
market, where artificial sweetening agents (Eg: saccharine and sodium cyclamate) are used.
• The artificial syrups are having two points in their favour

1. They are free from carbohydrates and suitable for diabetics.

2. They have lesser stability problems as compared to sugar based syrups.

Syrups are commonly used for the following reasons:

1. They are palatable

2. Syrups have high osmotic pressure which prevents growth of bacteria, fungi and prevent
decomposition of many vegetable substances. Due to this syrups have the self-preservative
activity.

3. Syrups retards oxidation because it is partly hydrolysed into reducing sugars, such as
lavulose and dextrose.
Elixirs:
• Elixirs are clear sweetened and flavoured hydroalcoholic solutions for oral use. Non medicated
elixiers such as aromatic elixir are mainly used as flavoured vehicle. Medicated elixiers have their
own therapeutic value.
• Alcohol content in elixiers varies from 3 to 40%. Due to high alcohol content, elixirs are not the
choice of dosage forms for pediatrics.
• The main ingredients of elixirs are ethyl alcohol, water, glycerin, propylene glycol, flavouring
agent, colouring agent and some preservative. The medicated elixirs usually contain a potent
drug such as, antibiotics, antihistamines or sedatives.

Eg: Piperazine Citrate Elixirs I.P (Piperazine Citrate)

Linctuses:
• Linctuses are viscous liquid and oral preparations that are generally prescribed for the relief of
cough. Mostly it contains ingredient with sedative action and some contains expectorants.
Simple syrup is generally used as a vehicle for most of the linctuses. This give soothing to the
sore mucous membrane of the throat.
• To obtain and prolong local action, linctuses should be taken undiluted and sipped and
swallowed slowly.

Eg: Codeine Linctus B.P.C (API: Codeine Phosphate)

Drops:
• These are small dose liquids administered without dilution with the help of dropper.
• The oil soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A and D concentrates in fish liver oil are presented as
drops for administration.
• Since these preparations contain potent medicaments, the dose must be measured accurately.
• Droppers is either graduated in fractions of a milliliters or pre calibrated.

Liquid Formulations for External Use:

a. Liquids for application to the intact skin, such as liniments, lotions etc

b. Liquids for the use in one or the other body cavities such as gargles, throat paints, eye drops,
eye lotions, ear drops, ear douches, nasal drops, enemas etc.

c. Liquids meant to be inhaled into or sprayed in nasal or respiratory tracts.

Liniments:
• The liniments are liquid or semi-liquid preparations meant for application to the skin. The
liniments are usually applied to the skin with friction and rubbing of the skin. They are solutions
or emulsions in an aqueous or oily vehicles.
• They are used as counter irritant, rubefacient and soothing.
• Alcohols are also used in the preparation of liniments. Alcohol in the liniments helps in the
penetration of medicaments into the skin and also increases its counter irritant and rubefacient
action.
• In oily liniments arachis oil is used commonly, which spread more easily on the skin.
• A liniment should not be applied to the broken skin because it may causes excessive irritation.

Eg: Liniment of Camphor.

Lotions:
• Lotions are suspensions, emulsions, combination of emulsion-suspension or aqueous or non-
aqueous solutions designed to be applied to the unbroken skin without friction.
• They are used for their epidermic effect, such as local cooling, soothing, protective, drying or
moisturizing properties depending upon the ingredients used.
• They are directly applied to the skin with the help of some adsorbent material, such as, cotton
wool.

Eg: Calamine Lotion I.P

Collodions:
• Collodions are liquid preparations for external use. It contains pyroxylin (nitrocellulose) in a
mixture of ethyl ether and alcohol.
• They are applied to the skin by means of a soft brush or suitable applicator. After application
ether and alcohol get evaporated and leaves a film of pyroxylin on the surface of the skin. As the
preparation contains the volatile substances collodions are highly inflammable.

Gargles:
• Gargles are clear aqueous solutions used in the posterior region of mouth by agitating the
solution with exhaled air to produce local effect in throat and these are not to be swallowed in
large amount.
• They are usually available in concentrated form with direction for dilution with warm water
before use. They are brought into intimate contact with the mucous membrane of the throat
and are allowed to remain in contact with it for a few seconds before they are thrown out of the
mouth.
• They are used to relieve soreness in mild throat infection. Phenol or thymol is generally present
in small concentration for its antibacterial activity. Potassium chlorate is also included in gargles
for its weak astringent effect to tone up a relaxed throat. It also stimulates secretion of saliva
which relieves dryness, eg: Phenol gargles, Potassium chloride and phenol gargles.

Mouth Washes:
• These are aqueous solutions with a pleasant taste and odour used to make clean and deodorise
the buccal cavity.
• Generally they contain antibacterial agents, alcohol, glycerin, sweetening agents, flavouring
agents and colouring agents.

Eg: Sodium Chloride Mouth Wash, Compound B.P.C.

Throat Paints:
• Throat paints are viscous preparations of medicaments for local action in the pharynx. Glycerin is
commonly used as a base because, being viscous, it adheres to mucous membrane for a long
period and it possesses sweet taste.
• They are applied to the throat with a brush. Throat paints are used in treatment of
inflammations of various areas of the mouth and throat.

Douches:
• Douches are aqueous solutions intended to clean, deodorise, soothe or medicate body cavities.
• Eye douches, often termed as eyewashes, are used to remove foreign particles and discharges
from the eyes.
• Douches are generally dispensed in the form of a powder or tablet with a specific directions for
dissolving it in a specific quantity of warm water. Vaginal douches must be sterile.
• They are used for:

a. Cleansing agents: Isotonic sodium chloride solution

b. Antiseptics. Eg: Mercuric chloride (0.001%)

c. Astringent, Eg: Alum (1%)

Enemas:
• Enemas are aqueous or oily solutions, suspension or emulsions of medicaments intended for
rectal administration, to cause bowel evacuation, to bring about local or systemic therapeutic
action etc.
• Enemas meant for cleaning purpose are used to evacuate faeces in constipation or before an
operation. They act by any one of the following methods:

a. By stimulating peristalsis.

b. By lubricating impacted faeces.

Ear Drops:
• Ear drops are solutions, suspensions or emulsions of drugs in water, glycerin or propylene glycol
intended for instillation into the ear.
• These are used for removal of excessive cerumen, to treat infection, inflammation or pain and
for cleaning and drying of ear.

Eye Drops:
• These are sterile solutions or suspensions of drugs that are instilled into the eye with a dropper.
The eye drops are usually made in aqueous vehicle. It should be sterile, isotonic with lachrymal
secretions and free from foreign particles to avoid irritation to the eye.
• A suitable preservative like phenyl mercuric nitrate (0.002%), Benzalkonium chloride (0.01%)
may be used to prevent bacterial or fungal growth.
• Eye drops usually contain substances having antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic and miotic
properties.

Nasal Drops:
• These are aqueous solutions of drops that are instilled into the nose with a dropper.
• Nasal drops should be isotonic with 0.9% sodium chloride having neutral pH and viscosity similar
to nasal secretions by using0.5% methyl cellulose.
Biphasic Liquid Dosage form:
Liquids which consist of two phases are known biphasic liquids. Eg: Emulsions and suspensions.

Emulsions:
• Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable heterogeneous biphasic system consisting of two
immiscible liquids, one of which is dispersed as minute globules into the others.
• This type of formulations are stabilized by using emulsifying agent. Internal phase droplets are
generally ranged in diameter of 0.1 µm to 100 µm.
• Emulsions are mostly classified as oil in water (o/w) emulsions and water in oil (w/o) emulsions.
• Emulsions are used for

1. Oral administration, Eg: Liquid Paraffin Emulsion IP

2. Intravenous administration, Eg: Emulsion of vitamin A,D and K and

3. For external use, Eg: Emulsions for topical administration.

Suspensions:
• Suspensions are heterogeneous biphasic, thermodynamically unstable liquid dosage form of
medicaments in which insoluble solid particles (as internal, discontinuous or dispersed phase) is
uniformly distributed in liquid phase (External, continuous or dispersion phase).
• In suspensions finely divided particles ranging from 0.5 to 5 microns are dispersed in a liquid
vehicle.
• Suspensions are used for oral, parenteral and external applications. Suspensions which are
meant for external applications should have small particle size to avoid gritty feeling to the skin
and to cover a larger area of the skin. Smaller particles also helps in the penetration of drug
through the skin.