Drug Dosage Forms Overview

Drug Dosage Forms

• Solid dosage forms deliver medication via ingestion. Examples include tablets, capsules, powders, granules, and pills.
• Tablets are compressed medicated masses containing one or more active ingredients. Variations include coated tablets (modified release) and enteric-coated tablets (dissolve only in intestines).
• Capsules are gelatinous containers holding powdered, liquid, or granular medications. Hard capsules hold solids; soft gelatin capsules often house liquids.
• Powders are fine solid particles, often mixed with diluents or fillers for easier administration. They are administered orally or via inhalation.
• Granules resemble powders but have larger particle sizes, making them easier to swallow.
• Pills are drug mixtures with binders, usually spherical, made by compression or molding.
• Liquid dosage forms include solutions, suspensions, elixirs, syrups, and emulsions.
• Solutions are homogenous mixtures of medication dissolved in a solvent; easily measured and administered.
• Suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures with solid particles suspended in a liquid; they must be shaken before use.
• Elixirs are sweetened hydroalcoholic solutions containing dissolved medication.
• Syrups are concentrated sugar solutions with dissolved medication.
• Emulsions are mixtures of two immiscible liquids, one dispersed in the other (e.g., oil-in-water).
• Semi-solid dosage forms include ointments, creams, gels, and transdermal patches.
• Ointments are semisolid topical preparations, typically petroleum-based.
• Creams are semisolid emulsions, offering greater water content than ointments. They can be oil- or water-based.
• Gels are semisolid systems with either small molecules dispersed in a liquid or macromolecules forming a viscous solution.
• Transdermal patches deliver medication through the skin, providing sustained release into the bloodstream.
• Inhalants deliver drugs via inhalation, often used for respiratory conditions.
• Suppositories are medications in a firm base that melts at body temperature for rectal, vaginal, or urethral insertion.
• Injections (parenteral) administer drugs via needle directly into body tissues or bloodstream. These are classified as intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous (SC).

Glossary of Medical Terms (Pharmacy Perspective)

• Absorption is the process of a drug being taken up from the administration site into the bloodstream.
• Administration is the act of giving a drug to a patient.
• Adverse Effect is an undesirable or harmful reaction to a drug.
• Bioavailability is the portion of a drug reaching systemic circulation, expressed as a percentage of unchanged drug.
• Dosage is the amount of a drug administered.
• Drug Interaction is the change in a drug's effect by another drug or substance.
• Elimination is the removal of a drug from the body, including metabolism and excretion.
• Excretion is the removal of drugs or their metabolites from the body, primarily via the kidneys.
• Half-life is the time it takes for a drug's concentration in the body to decrease by half.
• Medication Order is a prescription or instruction for administering medication.
• Metabolism is the transformation of drugs into more water-soluble forms for easier excretion, primarily occurring in the liver.
• Onset is the time a drug takes to start working.
• Pharmacokinetics studies how the body affects a drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
• Pharmacodynamics studies how drugs affect the body.
• Potency is the amount of a drug needed to produce a specific effect.
• Side Effect is a secondary effect, usually less severe than an adverse reaction.
• Solubility is a drug's ability to dissolve in a liquid.
• Steady State is when drug administration equals drug elimination, resulting in a constant drug concentration in the body.
• Therapeutic Index is the ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose, a higher ratio indicating greater safety.
• Toxicity is the undesirable effects occurring at high drug doses.
• Vehicle is the substance carrying the drug in a dosage form.
• Therapeutic Range is the drug concentration in the blood for therapeutic effect without toxicity.
• Route of Administration is the method of introducing a drug into the body (e.g., oral, IV, topical).
• Efficacy is a drug's ability to produce a desired effect.
• Indication is a reason for using a drug.
• Contraindication is a condition in which a drug's use is undesirable or dangerous.

Medical Terms for Perspective in Pharmacy

• Pharmacists need accurate medical terminology for proper interpretation and dispensing of medications.
• Clear medical communication is crucial for pharmacists working with doctors, nurses, and patients to avoid misinterpretations of drug regimens, dosages, or instructions.
• Understanding medical terms aids pharmacists in confirming prescriptions, identifying potential drug interactions or contraindications, enabling safe medication practice.
• Pharmacists effectively counsel patients by explaining medical terms, promoting patient comprehension of medication usage, side effects, and adverse reactions.
• Continuous learning of medical terminology and related drug information strengthens pharmacists' professionalism and ensures the delivery of safe and appropriate medications.