UNIT VI
INTRODUCTION TO
PHARMACEUTICS
Objective
• Identify and define common medical terms, drug
dosage forms, and route of administration and
therapeutic categories of drugs.
Dosage Form
• also known as pharmaceuticals.
It is define as preparation
devised to make possible
administration of medications
in measured or prescribed
amount.
LIQUIDS
A. Solutions – a homogenous
mixture that is prepared by
dissolving a solid or liquid or gas in
another liquid; it represents a group
of preparations in which the
molecules of the solute or dissolved
substances are dispersed among
those of the solvent
Aqueous Solutions
• Water – used mainly as a vehicle and as a
solvent for the desired flavoring or
medicinal ingredients.
• Aromatic water – also known as
medicated water, clear saturated
aqueous solutions of volatile oils or
aromatic or volatile substances.
Aqueous Solutions
•Aqueous acids – official inorganic acids and
certain acids although of minor significance as
therapeutic agents are great importance in
chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Aqueous Solutions
•Diluted acids – is that in which the
concentration of the water mixed in
the acid is higher than the concentration of
the acid itself.
• A dilute acid, unlike a concentrated acid,
will ionize to a greater degree in their
solution (higher percent dissociation with
decreasing concentration).
Aqueous Solutions
•Douches – aqueous solutions directed
against a part or into a cavity of the body
Aqueous Solutions
Enemas – also known as evacuation
enemas. They are rectal injections
employed to evacuate bowel retention
enemas to influence the general system by
absorption, or to effect locally the seat of
disease.
Aqueous Solutions
•Gargles – aqueous solutions used for
treating the pharynx and nasopharynx by
forcing air from the lungs through the
gargle which is held in the throat.
Aqueous Solutions
•Mouthwashes – aqueous solutions
which are most often used for their
deodorant, refreshing, or antiseptic
effect.
Aqueous Solutions
•Juices – prepared from fresh ripe fruits, aqueous
in character and used in making syrups which are
employed as vehicles.
Aqueous Solutions
•Nasal solutions – usually aqueous
solutions which are deigned to be
administered to the nasal passages in
drops or spray form.
Aqueous Solutions
•Otic solutions – aqueous preparations
dispensed in a container which permits
the administration of drops to the ear
Sweet or other viscid Aqueous Solutions
Syrups
❑ Concentrated Aqueous preparations
of sugar with or without flavoring
agents and medicinal substances
Sweet or other viscid Aqueous Solutions
Honey
❑ a sweet, sticky yellowish-brown fluid
made by bees and other insects from
nectar collected from flowers.
Sweet or other viscid Aqueous Solutions
Mucilages
❑ a polysaccharide substance
extracted as a viscous or gelatinous
solution from plant roots, seeds,
etc., and used in medicines and
adhesives.
Sweet or other viscid Aqueous Solutions
Jellies/Gel
❑a sweet, clear, semisolid spread or
preserve made from fruit juice and
sugar boiled to a thick consistency.
❑ a semi solid system consisting of
either a suspension of small inorganic
particles or large organic molecules
interpenetrated by a liquid.
❑ It may contain a gelling agent.
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Collodion –liquid preparations
containing pyroxillin in a mixture of ethyl
ether and ethanol.
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Glycerites – solutions or mixtures of
medicinal substances in not less than 50%
by weight of glycerin
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Elixirs – clear, pleasantly flavored
sweetened hydro-alcoholic liquids intended
for oral use.
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Inhalations – are solutions of drugs
administered by the nasal or oral
respiratory route for local or systemic
effect.
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Oleovitamins – fish liver oils diluted
with edible vegetable oil or solutions of
volatile substances of the indicated
vitamins or vitamin concentrates (usually
A and D) in fish liver oil.
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Liniments – solutions or mixtures of
various substances in oil, alcoholic solutions
of soap or emulsions.
NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
•Spirits – known as essences; are
alcoholic hydro-alcohol solutions
of volatile substances.
•Toothache drops – preparations used
for temporary relief of toothache by
application of cotton saturated with the
product into tooth cavity
B. EMULSION – a two phase system
prepared by combining two immiscible
liquids one of which is uniformly dispersed
through the other; they consist of globules
that have diameters equal to or greater
than those of the largest colloidal particles.
C. SUSPENSIONS – a two-phase system
consisting of finely divided solid
dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas.
1. GELS – semi-solid systems of either
suspension made up of small inorganic
particles or large organic molecules
interpenetrated by a liquid.
2. LOTIONS – usually liquid
suspension or dispersions intended
for external application to the
body.
3. MAGMAS and MILK – aqueous
suspensions of insoluble inorganic drugs;
they differ from gels mainly in that the
suspended particles are layers.
EXTRACTS
•TINCTURES – alcoholic or
hydroalcoholic solutions prepared from
vegetable materials or from chemical
substances
•FLUIDEXTRACTS – liquid
preparation of vegetable drugs
containing alcoholic as a solvent or
as preservative or both, so made that
each mL contains the therapeutic
constituents of 1 g of the standard
drug that it represents
•EXTRACTS – concentrated
preparations of vegetable or animal
drugs obtained by removal of the
active constituents of the respective
drugs with suitable menstruum.
•PARENTERAL PREPARATION –
sterile preparations intended to be
administered by injection under or
through one or more layers of skin or
mucous membranes
•INTRAVENOUS ADMIXTURES –
mixture of intravenous fluids and
drugs to be administered by injection
OPHTHALMIC PREPARATIONS – sterile preparations to be
used on the eyes
• Solutions – intended for the eye; clear, sterile
solution to be instilled into the eyes by the use
of a dropper.
• Suspensions – dispersion of finely divided
relatively insoluble drug substances in an
aqueous vehicle containing suitable suspending
and dispersing agent.
OPHTHALMIC PREPARATIONS
•Ointment – intended for the
eyes; they contain medicinal
agents added to the ointment
base of white petrolatum and
mineral oil either as a solution
or as a micronized powder.
OPHTHALMIC PREPARATIONS
LENS CARE PRODUCTS – sterile preparations intended to protect the lens
1. wetting solutions
2. cleaning solutions
3. disinfection solutions
4. soaking solutions
5. artificial tears
MEDICATED APPLICATION
•OINTMENT – semi-solid preparations
intended for external applications to the skin or
mucous membranes.
MEDICATED APPLICATION
• PASTES – concentrates of absorptive powders
dispersed in petrolatum or hydrophilic petrolatum
MEDICATED APPLICATION
• CATAPLASM – a soft moist mass of meals, herb,
seed usually applied hot in clothes.
MEDICATED APPLICATION
•POWDERS for external use are usually described as
dusting powders, usually contain starch, talc, and zinc
stearate
MEDICATED APPLICATION
• DRESSINGS – external applications
resembling ointment usually used as a
covering or protection.
MEDICATED APPLICATION
•CREAMS – viscous liquid or semi-
solid emulsions of either the oil in
water or water in oil type
MEDICATED APPLICATION
•PLASTERS – substances intended
for external application; they are
made of such materials and of such
consistency as to adhere to the skin
and attach to a dressing
MEDICATED APPLICATION
•SUPPOSITORIES – solid dosage
forms of various weights and shapes
usually medicated for insertion into
the rectum, vagina, or the urethra
POWDERS
• Oral powders – generally supplied
as finely divided or effervescent
granules
POWDERS
•Dentifrices – may be prepared in the
form of a bulk powders generally
containing soap or detergent, mild
abrasive and anticariogenic agent
POWDERS
•Douche powders – soluble
powders intended to be dissolved in
water prior to use as antiseptic or
cleaning agents for a body cavity.
POWDERS
•Dusting powders – locally applied
non-toxic preparations that are
intended to have no systemic
action.
POWDERS
•Insufflations – finely divided
powders introduced into the
body cavities.
POWDERS
•Triturations –dilutions of
potent powdered drugs
prepared by intimately mixing
them with a suitable diluent in
1:10 dilutions
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
• TABLET – solid dosage form
containing drug substances
with or without suitable
diluents and prepared either
by compression or molding
methods.
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
• CAPSULES – solid dosage forms in
which the drug substance is
enclosed in either a hard or soft
soluble container or of a suitable
form of gelatin
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
• PILLS – small, round, solid dosage
forms containing medicinal agents
and intended for oral administration
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
• TROCHES – also known as
lozenges or pastilles; they are
discoid shaped solid containing
the medicinal agent in a suitably
flavored base.
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
• CACHETS – related to capsules in as such
as they provide an edible container for
oral administration of solid drugs.
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
• PELLETS – small, sterile cylinders about
3.2 mm in diameter by 8 mm in length,
formed by compression from medicated
masses
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
Cachets or Konseal or Wafer Capsules –
are related to capsules, in as much as they
provide an edible container for the oral
administration of solid drugs, cachets were
formerly used in pharmacy. They vary in
size, from 3/4 to 1/8 of an inch in diameter
and consisted of 2 concave pieces of wafer
made of flour and water.
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
Pellets or Inserts –
are small, sterile cylinders about 3.2 mm in diameter by 8
mm in length which are formed by compression from
medicated masses. They are used by implantation.
Sometimes called BEADS.
Examples: Testosterone, estradiol,
ordesoxycorticosterone pellet desired for prolonged and
continuous absorption. Norplat (Wyeth-Ayers)
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
Vaginal or Inserts –
are specially formulated and shaped tablets
intended to be placed in the vagina by special
applicators, where the medication is released,
generally for localized effects
ORAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
Lollipops - Fentanyl Actiq
(CEPHALON) is a raspberry lollipop
that differs from Fentanyl Oralet. It is a
sugar-base lozenge on a stick and contains
fentanyl citrate . Actiq is the first product
designed to aid in controlling breakthrough
pain in cancer
OTHER SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
Dental Cones
❑ A tablet intended to be placed in the
empty socket following a tooth
extraction, for preventing local
multiplication of pathogenic bacteria
associated with tooth extraction.
❑ They contain an antibiotic or
antiseptic
OTHER SOLID DOSAGE FORMS
STICK
❑ A slender, cylindrical
dosage form of rigid
consistency.
Lamellae
⚫ Small, medicated, glycerogelatin discs
for ophthalmic use (forerunner of the
Ocusert)
Confections
⚫ Heavily saccharinated, soft masses of
medicinal agents
AEROSOLS
• both oral and topical; they contain
therapeutically active ingredients dissolved,
suspended, or emulsified in a propellant or
in a mixture of solvent and propellant
• Example:
• Metered Dose Aerosol (Fluticasone,
Albuterol, Beclomethasone) – Asthma,
Bronchospasm
• RADIOPHARMECUTICALS – radioisotopes
used in medicine for therapeutic and
diagnostic purposes
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS
• Vaccines a suspension of attenuated
(live) or inactivated (killed)
microorganisms or fraction thereof
administered to induce immunity
and thus prevent infectious disease.
• Toxoid – a modified antigen from an
infectious organism used as a vaccine
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS
• Immune globulin – a solution containing
antibodies from the pooled plasma of not
less than 1,000 normal individuals
• Hyperimmune serum – a special
preparation obtained from human donor
polls selected for high antibody titer against
a specific disease
