Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Parenteral Preparations

Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

• Tinctures are alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solutions prepared from vegetable materials or chemical substances.

• Fluidextracts are liquid preparations of vegetable drugs using alcohol as a solvent or preservative. Concentration is 1 g of drug/1 mL of solvent.

Parenteral Preparations

• Parenteral Preparations are sterile preparations intended for injection under or through the skin or mucous membranes. Examples include ampoules and vials.

• Solutions ready for injection are already dissolved.

• Dry, soluble products are ready to be combined with a solvent right before use.

• Suspensions ready for injection are dry, insoluble products ready to be combined with a vehicle right before use.

• Emulsions are also used for parenteral administration.

Parenteral Routes

• Intravenous injection is administered into a vein.

• Intraarterial injection is administered into an artery.

• Intracardiac injection is administered into the heart.

• Intraspinal/Intrathecal injection is administered into the spine.

• Intraosseous injection is administered into the bone.

• Intraarticular injection is administered into a joint.

• Intrasynovial injection is administered into the joint fluid area.

• Intracutaneous/ intradermal injection is administered into the skin.

• Subcutaneous injection is administered beneath the skin.

• Intramascular injection is administered into the muscle.

Intravenous Admixture

• Intravenous Admixture is a combination of sterile products added to an IV fluid for administration.

• Aseptic technique is used for mixing intravenous admixtures in a suitable environment using laminar flow hoods.

Intravenous Fluids

• Intravenous fluids are sterile, large volume solutions administered by intravenous infusions.

• These solutions can contain sugar, amino acids or electrolytes.

Total Parenteral Nutrition

• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) preparations provide calories, nitrogen, and other nutrients.

• Dextrose is the preferred source of calories.

• Protein hydrolysate is the preferred source of nitrogen.

• Electrolytes and vitamins are provided as additional nutrients.

Inhalation

• Inhalation is a method of administration through the nasal or oral respiratory route for local or systemic effects.

• Inhalants are drugs or combinations of drugs that can be carried by air currents into the nasal passage.

• Nebulizers and inhalers are used for inhalation.

Topical/Epicutaneous Administration

• Topical/Epicutaneous administration uses drug preparations applied to the skin.

• Examples of topical preparations include lotions, ointments, soaps, and creams.

Transdermal Administration

• Transdermal drug delivery systems are applied to the skin to deliver the drug systematically.

• Patches are an example of a transdermal drug delivery system.

Rectal/Vaginal/Urethral Administration

• Rectal/vaginal/urethral preparations are used to deliver drugs into body orifices.

• Suppositories are an example of this dosage form.

Intraocular (Eye) Administration

• Intraocular (eye) preparations are sterile preparations used for the eye.

• Conjunctival (conjuctiva) administration is a common route.

• Opthalmic drops/solutions are examples of intraocular preparations.

Intranasal (Nose) Administration

• Intranasal (nose) preparations are used in the nasal passage.

• Nasal sprays/inhalations/drops are examples of intranasal preparations.

Aural (Ear) Administration

• Aural (ear) preparations are used in the ear.

• Otic drops/solutions are examples of aural preparations.

Solutions

• Oral
• Otic
• Ophthalmic
• Nasal

Aromatic water

• Aromatic water is also known as a medicated vehicle.

• It's a clear saturated aqueous solution of volatile oils or aromatic substances.

• It's primarily used as a flavored or perfumed vehicle.

Enemas

• Enemas are rectal solutions used to evacuate the bowel.

• Evacuation enemas cleanse the bowel.

• Retention enemas are administered for local or systemic effects.

Douches (Irrigations)

• Douches (irrigations) are applied into a cavity or part of the body.

• They are used as cleansing or antiseptic agents.

Nasal Solutions (Sprays)

• Nasal solutions (sprays) are administered to the nasal passage.

Otic Solutions

• Otic solutions are dispensed in containers that allow drops to be administered into the ear.

Gargles/Mouthwashes

• Gargles/Mouthwashes are used for deodorant, antiseptic, and refreshing effects.

Topical Solutions

• Astringents are solutions that constrict pores and precipitate proteins.

• Topical solutions are intended for topical application on the skin or mucous membranes.

• Local anti-infective solutions kill microorganisms.

Elixirs

• Elixirs are clear, pleasantly flavored, sweetened hydro-alcoholic liquids.

• They are used as flavors and vehicles.

• The primary ingredients are ethanol and water.

Spirits

• Spirits are also known as essences.

• They are alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solutions of volatile substances.

• Spirits are commonly used as flavoring agents and sometimes used medicinally by inhalation.

Liniments

• Liniments are alcoholic or oleaginous solutions or emulsions of medicinal substances.

• They are applied by rubbing on the skin.

• Hydroalcoholic liniments are rubefacients and counterirritants.

• Oleaginous liniments are used for massage.

Collodions

• Collodions are liquid preparations containing pyroxillin in a mixture of ethyl ether and ethanol.

• They are applied to the skin to leave a film of pyroxylin on the surface.

• Pyroxylin is soluble gun cotton.

Oleovitamins

• Oleovitamins are fish liver oils diluted with edible vegetable oil.

• They are solutions of volatile substances of indicated vitamins or vitamin concentrates.

• Oleovitamins typically contain vitamins A and D.

Toothache Drops

• Toothache drops provide temporary relief of toothache by applying cotton saturated with the product into the tooth cavity.

Syrups

• Syrups are mixtures of high concentrations of sugar and water.

• They are used as flavored or medicated syrups.

Mucilages

• Mucilages are thick, viscid, adhesive liquids.

• They are produced by dispersing gum in water or extracting the mucilaginous principle from a vegetable origin.

• Mucilages are used as suspending agents.

Gels

• Gels are dispersions of small or large molecules in an aqueous liquid vehicle rendered jellylike by a gelling agent.

Jellies

• Jellies are a class of gels with a structural coherent matrix containing a high proportion of water.

• They are used as lubricants for surgical gloves and rectal thermometers.

Extracts

• Extracts are solutions of active constituents of a crude drug obtained by using suitable menstrua.

• Maceration and percolation are methods of extraction.

• Solvent is evaporated leaving a residual mass or powder.

• The extract is ready for use as a medicinal agent or may be further processed to produce solid or semi-solid extracts.

Insufflations

• Insufflations are finely divided powders introduced into body cavities such as ears, nose, throat, tooth sockets, and vagina using an insufflator.

Triturators

• Triturators are dilutions of potent powdered drugs prepared by intimately mixing them with a suitable diluent in 1:10 dilutions.

Tablets

• Tablets are solid dosage forms containing drug substances with or without diluents, produced by compression or molding.

• Compressed tablets are further categorized by their coating or function:

  • Sugar coated tablets
  • Film coated tablets
  • Enteric coated tablets
  • Multiple compressed tablets
  • Controlled release tablets
  • Effervescent tablets
  • Compressed suppositories or inserts
  • Buccal or sublingual tablets

Molded Tablets or Tablet Triturates

• Molded tablets or tablet triturates
• Hypodermic tablets

Capsules

• Capsules are solid dosage forms enclosed in hard or soft soluble containers typically made of gelatin.

Pills

• Pills are small, round, solid dosage forms intended for oral administration.

Troches

• Troches (also known as lozenges or pastilles) are discoid shaped solids containing the drug in a flavored base.

Cachets

• Cachets are edible containers for oral solid drug administration.

Pellets

• Pellets are small, sterile cylinders formed by compressing medicated masses.

Storage Temperatures of Pharmaceuticals (USP)

• Freezer: -25⁰C to -10 ⁰C (-13⁰F and 14⁰F )

• Cold: Not exceeding 8⁰C (46⁰F)

• Refrigerator: 2⁰C to 8⁰C (36⁰F and 46⁰F)

• Cool: 8⁰C to 15⁰C (46⁰F and 59⁰F)

• Warm: 30⁰C to 40⁰C(86⁰F and 104⁰F )

• Excessive Heat: Above 40⁰C(104⁰F )

• Controlled Room Temperature: 20⁰C to 25⁰C (68⁰F and 77 ⁰F )