CLASSIFICATION OF DOSAGE

FORMS
INTRODUCTION
• Drugs are presented in a wide verity of
dosage forms.
• The drug formulation is depends on a variety of
factors and the same drugs may be presented in
several different dosage forms.

• Definition: Dosage forms are the means(or the form) by

which drug molecules are delivered to sites of action
within the body.

• On other words, the physical form of the drug.

• The need for dosage forms:
1. Accurate dose.
2. Protection e.g. coated tablets, sealed ampules.
3. Protection from gastric juice.
4. Masking taste and odour.
5. Placement of drugs within body tissues.
6. Sustained release medication.
7. Controlled release medication.
8. Optimal drug action.
9. Insertion of drugs into body cavities (rectal,
vaginal)
10. Use of desired vehicle for insoluble drugs.
 Classification
Dosage form

ROA Physical Form

• Oral • Solid
• Topical • Semisolid
• Rectal • Liquid
• Parentaral • Gaseous
• Vaginal
• Inhaled
• Ophthalmic
 AEROSOLS
oAerosols are suspensions of fine solid or liquid particles in
a gas.
oThey are used to apply drug to the respiratory tract and
skin.
oThese consist of pressured packs which contain the drug in
solution or suspension and suitable propellant.
oThey are most commonly used for their local effect in
the treatment of asthma.
oThese devices are fitted with a metering valve which
allows a known dose of drug to be delivered each time the
device in fired.
oSome aerosols are for topical use, particularly in the
treatment of muscle springs and injuries.
 APPLICATIONS
• These are fluid or semi – fluid preparations intended for
applications to the skin (topical use).
• They are solution, suspension or emulsion.
E.g.: Ascaricides or Antiseptics,
Antiparasites.
 CACHETS
• Enclosure in cachets provides a means of
administering nauseous or disagreeable powders in
a tasteless form.
• Cachets are molded from rice paper, a material made by
pouring a mixture of rice flour and water between two,
hot, polished,revolving cylinders, the water evaporates
and a sheet of wafer is formed.
• There are two kinds; ‘wet seal’, ‘dry seal’
 CAPSULES
• There are solid dosage forms, generally for oral use.
• Some drugs formulated as capsules are in tended
to be inhaled.
• There are two main types of capsules and both are
available in verity of sizes.
– Soft and Hard
• Hard capsules are for solid medicaments.
• They consist of a cylindrical body and cap, both with
hemispherical ends, and are usually made from gelatin
and water with added preservative.
000 - 5

10
• Soft (flexible) capsules are for solids, liquids and semi
liquids.
• They may be spherical, ovoid, or cylindrical with
hemispherical ends.
• Modified release preparations are available where the
drug is presented in the gelatin
container as small pellets with
different coating.

PHACE
2102
 COLLATIONS
• These are liquid preparations for external use.
• They are applied with a brush or rod.
• The liquid is painted on the skin, where it forms a
flexible film.
 EMULSIONS
• These are mixtures of two immiscible liquids, usually oil
and water.
• An emulsion is a comparatively pleasant form in which
to take oil.
• The oil, in a very fine state of subdivision, is
dispersed in flavored water, the dispersion
being stabilized by inclusion of an emulsifying
agent.
 CREAM
• These are semi solid emulsions for external use.
• There are two kinds, aqueous and oily creams, in which
the emulsions are oil in water and water in oil
respectively.
• Because of the water content they are susceptible to
microbial contamination and include a preservative or are
gives a short shelf life.
• Creams are easier and are less greasy than ointment.
 DRAUGHTS
• Draughts are liquid oral preparation of which only one
or two rather large doses of the order of 50 ml are
prescribed.
• Each dose is issued in a separate container.
E.g.: Ipecacuanha Emetic Draughts, Peadiatric.
 POWDERS (2)
DUSTING POWDERS
• These are finely divided powders for external use.
• These are free – flowing.
• Their main uses are as lubricants to prevent friction
between skin surfaces and for disinfections and
antisepsis in minor wounds.
 EAR DROPS
oThere are used topically to treat a variety
of ear problems.
oEar drops are solutions or suspensions drugs that
are instilled into the ear with a dropper.
o If is usually suggested that such oils, before being
dropped into the ear, should be warmed.
 ELIXIRS
• Elixirs are clear liquid, oral preparations of
potent or nauseous drugs.
• They are pleasantly flavored and usually
attractively colored.
• The vehicle generally contains a high proportion of
sucrose or increasingly nowadays, a “sugar free” vehicle,
which is less likely to cause dental caries.
 ENEMAS
• An enema is an oily or aqueous solution which is
administered rectally.
• Varieties of drugs are formulated as enemas and are
used to treat conditions such as constipation or
ulcerative colitis.
• They are also used in X – ray examination of the lower
bowel and for systemic effects, in status epileticus and
febrile convulsions.
 EYE DROPS
• These are sterile preparation used to
administered drugs to the eye.
 GARGLES
• Gargles are aqueous solutions used to treat
infections of the throat.
• They are often presented in a concentrated
form with instruction to the patient for dilution.
• It should not be swallowed but hold in the throat
while exhaling through the liquid.
• After a suitable time period, usually a minute or so the
patient should spit out the gargle.
 GEL
• Gels are semisolid dosage forms for topical or
other local use.
• They are usually transparent or translucent and
have a variety of uses.
E.g.: Spermicides and lubricants.
• Preparation containing coal tar or other drugs used in this
treatment of psoriasis and eczema are also presented in
this form.
• It is non - greasy.
• The term “gel” is also used to describe colloidal
suspensions of drugs such as
• Al (OH)3 & Mg(OH)2
 GRANULES
• The term is used to describe a drug which is presented
in small irregular shaped particles.
• Granules may be packed in individual sachets containing
a unit dose of medicament or may be provided in a bulk
format where the dose is measured using a 5ml spoon.
 EFFERVESCENT GRANULES
• The basis of effervescent granules is a mixture
of citric acid and tartaric acids with sodium
bicarbonate.
• A medicament included and saccharin or sucrose
may be added as a sweetening agent.
 INHALATION
These are liquid preparations consisting of, or
containing, volatile substances.
They are used to relieve congestion and
inflammation of the respiratory tract.
 INSUFFLATIONS
Insufflations are medicated dusting powders that are
blown by insuflator (a device similar to an atomizer) in
to region (such as nose, threat, body cavities, ear) to
which it would be different to apply the powder directly.
 IRRIGATIONS
• Irrigations are solutions of medicaments used to treat
infections of the bladder, vagina and less often, the nose.
• They are administered via a thin, soft, rubber or plastic
tube known as a catheter (bladder), vulcanite or plastic
pipe (vagina) or a specially designed glass irrigator
(nose).
 LINCTUSES
• Linctuses viscous liquid, oral preparations that are
usually prescribed for the relief of cough.
• Sip and swallowed
•They are simple solutions or admixture containing a
high proportion of syrup and sometimes glycerin
which giving a sweet taste, have a demulcent effect on
the mucous membrane of the throat.
 LINIMENTS
oThese are fluids, semi – fluid or occasionally, semi –
solid preparation intended for application to the skin.
oThey may be alcoholic or oily solution or emulsions.
o Most are massaged into the skin (counter –
irritant or stimulating types) but some are applied on
a warm dressing (analgesic and soothing types).
o Rubbing.
o Liniments must not be applied to broken skin.