Semi-solid and Liquid Dosage Forms

By Abubakar salisu fago.

Semi-solid dosage forms 1. Ointments 2. Creams 3. Liniments 4. Suppository 5. Gel/ jelly 6. Paste 7. Poultices 8. Aerosols 9. Transdermal Drug delivery system

Nonsterile 1. Syrup 2. Solution 3. Tincture 4. Suspension 5. Emulsion 6. Lotion 7. Elixir 8. Draughts 9. Enemas 10. Gargles

Liquid dosage forms

Sterile dosage forms 1. Injectables 2. Intravenous bolus dosage 3. Drops ( Eye & Ear)

Semisolid Dosage forms

Ointments: are semi-solid greasy preparation for application to the skin or mucosa. The base is usually anhydrous and containing medicaments in solution or suspension. They are generally used for their a. emollient effects b. protection effect of lesions c. topical application of medications eg. Acne- Sulphur or resorcinol ointment Antibiotic- bacitracine, chlortetracycline Anti-inflammatory- Betamethasone Anti-septic- Zinc oxide Dandruffs- Salicylic acid Counter irritant- Capcisin

Creams:
These are semisolid emulsion for external use. There are two kinds, aqueous and oily cream, in which the emulsion are Oil in Water (O/W) or Water in Oil (W/O). The oil in water type are relatively non-greasy.
Creams have a significant risk of causing immunological sensitization due to preservatives

Cream are of two type cold cream and

vanishing creams. Vanishing cream is an oil in water type of emulsion whereas cold cream is of water in oil type of emulsion. They also differ in their pH. vanishing cream is of neutral to slightly acidic pH but cold cream is of neutral pH. Vanishing creams are easily washable but cold creams can not be removed from the skin easily.

Creams have a significant risk of causing immunological sensitization due to preservatives

Gels/Jelly: Gel is semi-solid, jelly like materials that have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. They are substantially crossed link system, which exhibits no flow when in steady-state.
Gels are aqueous colloidal suspensions of the hydrated forms of insoluble medicaments. Gels are thicker than a solution. They can use for both external and internal purpose. Useful for the scalp and body folds. Avoid cuts and erosions due to drying and stinging effect of alcohol base. Example: Aluminum Hydroxide Gel, used as an antacid.

Paste:
Semi-solid preparation for external application. Paste combines three agents oil, water, and powder. It is an ointment in which a powder is suspended. Base may be anhydrous (liquid or soft paraffin) or water soluble (glycerol and mucilage). Their stiffness makes them useful as a protective coatings

Liniments: are fluid, semi-solid or occasionally, semi-solid medicinal fluid rubbed into the skin to soothe pain or relieve stiffness.
They may be alcoholic or oily solutions or emulsions. Most are massaged into the skin (counterirritant or stimulating types) but some are applied on a warm dressing or with brush ( analgesic and soothing types). Liniment must not used in broken skin.

Suppositories: Are conical or ovoid, solid preparations for insertion into the rectum where they melt, dissolved or disperse and exert a local or less often systemic effect. Their basis is fat, a wax or glycerol-gelatin jelly .
In past: small suppositories known as cones were prescribed for ear infection. A long and very narrow form, called as bougies, were used for nasal and urethral infections; these are virtually obsolete.

Poultices:
Poultices are paste like preparations used to reduce inflammation as they retain heat. They are used externally. They are first heated (as hot as the patient can bear) and applied on a dressing of the affected area.

Aerosols:
Aerosol is a colloid suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. They are used to apply drugs to the respiratory tract and skin. They are mainly fluid or semi-fluid preparations intended to be used on them skin. Most of them are used as antiparasitics. By applying pressure to the bulb of the device ejection of the medicament as a mist suspended in air occurs. The compressed rather than liquefied gases may be used to prepare aerosols. The pressure of the gas in the head space of the container forces the product concentrate up the dip tubes and out of the valve. Common gas use as propellant; nitrogen, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

Transdermal drug delivery system:

Transdermal patches can be a very precise time released method of delivering a drug. These are devices in the form of adhesive patches of various shapes and sizes (520cm) which deliver contained the drug at constant rate into the systemic circulation via stratum corneum. The drug (in solution or in bound polymer) is held in a reservoir between occlusive and baking film and rate controlling microspore membrane, the under surface of which smear with and adhesive impregnated with priming dose. The adhesive layer is backed by another film that is to be peeled of before been application.

Syrup: Liquid oral preparations in which the vehicle is a concentrated aqueous solution of sucrose or other sugar used to be called syrups .It is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount (65%) of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals.

Solution:
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is a substance dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving. The particles of solute in solution cannot be seen by naked eye. Sterile solutions can be used for parenteral purposes and non sterile solutions can be used orally.

Tincture:
A tincture is typically an alcoholic extract of plant or animal material or solution of such or of a low volatility substance. They are relatively weak compared to extracts. Example: Tincture of iodine.

Suspension:
A suspension is a heterogeneous preparation containing solid particles that are dispersed in fluid. Usually the solids must be larger than 1 micrometer. The internal phase (solid) is dispersed throughout the external phase (fluid) through mechanical agitation, with the use of certain excipients or suspending agents.

Emulsion:
An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible (un-blendable). In an emulsion, one liquid (the dispersed phase) is dispersed in the other (the continuous phase). Types of emulsion: 1.o/w emulsion oil is dispersed phase while water is dispersion media. 2.w/o emulsion water is dispersed phase while oil is external phase 3.multiple emulsion w/o/w o/w/o

Lotion:
Lotions are fluid preparations used externally without any friction or rubbing. They are either dabbed on the skin or applied on a dressing and covered with water proof material to reduce evaporation. It is of low- to medium-viscosity, topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin.

Elixir:
It is a clear, sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one's ills. When used as a pharmaceutical preparation, an elixir contains at least one active ingredient designed to be taken orally. They are pleasantly flavored and attractively colored.

Draughts:
Draughts are liquid oral preparations of which only one or two rather large doses of the order of 50ml are prescribed. Each dose is given in a separate container. Pediatric form is
exceptional so multiple volume is prescribed. dose

Enemas:
Enemas are solutions, suspensions or oil in water emulsions of medicaments intended for rectal purposes. An enema has the advantage over any laxative in its speed and certainty of action, and some people prefer it for this reason. Enemas can be carried out as treatment for medical conditions, such as constipation .

Gargles:
Gargles are aqueous solutions used to prevent or treat throat infections. Usually, they are dispensed in concentrated form with directions for dilutions with warm water before use. Antiseptic mouthwash are used to remove bacteria from the throat.

Injections:
An injection (often referred to as a "shot" or a "jab") is an infusion method of putting fluid into the body, usually with a hollow needle and a syringe which is pierced through the skin to a sufficient depth for the material to be forced into the body. An injection follows a parenteral route of administration; that is, administered other than through the digestive tract. There are several methods of injection or infusion, including intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intraosseous, and intraperitoneal.

Intravenous form:

bolus

dosage

Administering a drug intravenously ensures that the entire dose enters the general circulation. Intravenous administration bypasses the absorption phase and the hepatic first-pass effect. Bioavailability is therefore complete. The drug is then distributed throughout the body and then eliminated by the liver and/or kidney. With an iv bolus administration the amount of drug delivery is precisely controlled

Drops
Eye drops are saline-containing drops used as a ocular route to administer. Eye drops sometimes do not have medications in them and are only lubricating and tear-replacing solutions. Eye drops have less of a risk of side effects than do oral medicines

Nasal drops are solution of drugs that are instilled in the nose with a dropper. They are usually aqueous as oily preparations inhibit the movement of the cillia in the nasal mucosa.

Ear drops are a form of medicine used to treat or prevent ear infections, especially infections of the outer ear and ear canal. Bacterial infections are sometimes treated with antibiotics.