General Pharmacology: Dosage Forms Quiz

General Pharmacology: Dosage Forms of Drugs

• Learning Outcomes (LLOs): Students should be able to describe different oral, rectal, parenteral, inhalation, and topical dosage forms of drugs.

Enteral Dosage Forms

• Oral Dosage Forms (Liquids):

  • Solutions:
    • Aqueous solutions: Volatile oils (e.g., peppermint water).
    • Syrup: Sugar-saturated aqueous drug solutions (e.g., cough syrups).
    • Aqueous extract: 100% concentrated drug extract in water.
  • Alcoholic solutions:
    • Spirit: Alcoholic solution of volatile oils.
  • Elixir: Sweetened hydroalcoholic drug solution.
  • Tincture: 10-20% concentrated drug extract in alcohol.
  • Suspensions: Insoluble solid substances in water.
  • Emulsions: Insoluble liquid substances suspended in water with an emulsifying agent (e.g., gum).

• Oral Dosage Forms (Solids):

  • Tablets:
    • Ordinary tablets: Compressed medicated powder mixed with inert binders (e.g., starch, lactose).
    • Coated tablets: Sugar coating to mask bad taste.
    • Sustained-release tablets (spansules): Multiple coats for controlled release and prolonged action.

• Types of Tablets:

  • Compressed tablet
  • Sugar-coated tablet
  • Film-coated tablet
  • Effervescent tablet
  • Enteric-coated tablet
  • Chewable tablet

• Vaginal tablets: Examples include products like GYNO-TIOCOSID (ticonazole).

• Implantation tablets: Example is IMPLANON (etonogestrel implant).

• Lozenges/Troches: Products like Strepsils(for dry cough relief).

• Hypodermic tablets: These can be injected or are intended for a certain area.

Rectal Dosage Forms

• Liquid (Enema):

  • Evacuant enema: Warm water (600 mL) given under high pressure.
  • Retention enema: 100 mL given slowly under low pressure.

• Solid (Suppository):

  • The drug is incorporated into a waxy base.
  • Evacuant enemas and glycerin suppositories evacuate the lower GIT.
  • Medicated suppositories deliver drugs rectally.
  • Precautions before retention enema:
    • Rectum must be cleaned with an evacuant enema first.
    • Amount must not exceed 200 mL.
    • The level of the solution should not be high.
    • The solution should not be irritating.

Parenteral Dosage Forms (Liquids)

• Injections:
  • Ampoules: Single-dose vials of sterile solutions.
  • Vials: Multi-dose sterile solutions.

Drugs Given By Inhalation

• Gases: Oxygen, anesthetics, highly volatile substances (e.g., amyl nitrite).
• Vapors: Highly volatile or less volatile substances (e.g., benzoin tincture).
• Aerosols: Liquid or solid suspensions in gas.
  • Nebulizer: Depending on pressurized air or oxygen creates mist to deliver a drug via inhalation.
  • Inhaler: Drug is combined with a propellant substance. Amount is limited by both the toxicity of the drug and the additives in the inhaler.

Skin Dosage Forms

• Liquids:
  • Lotion: Aqueous solution for topical use.
  • Liniment: Alcoholic solution for topical use.
• Semisolid:
  • Cream: Oil-in-water emulsion.
  • Ointment: Water-in-oil emulsion (higher oil content).
  • Pastes: Mixture of powders and ointment.
• Solid:
  • Patches: Drug-containing adhesive patches.

Test your knowledge on various dosage forms of drugs, focusing on enteral routes like oral and rectal solutions, tablets, and their specific characteristics. This quiz will challenge your understanding of pharmaceutical formulations and their applications in medicine.