DRUG DOSAGE FORMS

learning objectives :
[Link] Dosage Forms

2. Recognizing the Need of Dosage Forms

3. Classification of Dosage form with Specific Examples and its Advantages and Disadvantages

Definition
Dosage forms are the means by which drug molecules are delivered to sites of action within the body.

The need for dosage forms:

• Accurate dose

• Protection from external enviroment e.g. coated tablets, sealed ampules

• Protection from gastric juice

• Taste and odour masking

• Placement of drugs within body tissues

• Sustained release of drugs

• Controlled release of drugs

• Optimal drug action

• Insertion of drugs into body cavities (rectal, vaginal)

• Use of desired vehicle for insoluble drugs

CLASSIFICATION
A. Oral Dosage Forms
a. Liquid Preparations:

Syrup, Emulsion, Suspension, Linctus, Elixir, Spirit, Tincture, Solution

b. Solid Preparations:

Tablet, Capsule, Pills, Powder, Granules

B. Rectal dosage forms

Suppository, Enema

C. Parenteral dosage forms:

Injections, Infusion
D. Inhalational dosage forms:
Aerosol Inhaler, Nasal Spray, Nebulizer

E. Topical dosage forms:

Cream, Ointment, Lotion, Paste, Dusting Powder, Eye drops, Nasal Drops, Ear Drops, Transdermal Patches,

Paints, Gargles, Mouth washes, Liniment, Lozenges, Gels, Poultice

A. ORAL DOSAGE FORM

a- LIQUID PREPARATIONS:
Advantages:
• Easy to administer
• Rate of absorption is faster as disintegration and dissolution time is not required.
• Suitable for paediatric patients and patients with dysphagia

Disadvantages:

• It is inconvenient to carry a drug in liquid form.

• Sometimes it is difficult to make the taste of drug palatable in mixture form
1- SOLUTION
a. A solution is a special type of homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances.
b. e.g. Asthalin solution
2- SYRUP
a. It is concentrated solution of sucrose or other sugars to which medicines and may be flavouring
agents are added.
b. e.g. Acefyl cough syrup
3- SUSPENSION
a. It is a dispersion of a solid material (the dispersed phase) in a liquid (the continuous phase)
with the help of a suitable suspending agent.
b. e.g. Dijex MP
4- EMULSIONS
a. It is mixture containing two immiscible liquids (Oil and water) made miscible with the help of
emulsifying agent.
b. e.g. Cod liver oil emulsion
5- ELIXIR
a. It is pleasantly flavoured and sweetened liquid preparation containing high proportion of
alcohol or glycerine, or propylene glycol.
b. e.g. Cofcol elixir
6- TINCTURE
a. A tincture is type of medicine extracted from a plant in an alcohol solution. e.g. Iodine Tincture
7- LINCTUS
a. It is thick viscous liquid preparation containing sucrose and medicinal substance usually for the
relief of cough. It possess demulcent, sedative and expectorant properties.
b. e.g. Codeine linctus

b- SOLID PREPARATIONS:
Advantages:
• Easy to carry
• Protection from gastric juices
 • Can be given as controlled release preparations to reduce numbers of daily dosing.
Disadvantages:
• Prolonged absorption time
• Dose dumping
• Cannot be given to paediatric or unconscious patients
1- TABLETS
It is product containing a mixture of active substances and excipients usually in powdered form pressed
or compacted into a solid. Most frequently are discoid in shape but may also be round, oval, oblong,
cylindrical in shape. Different types of tablet are buccal, sublingual, effervescent, chewable and control
release tablets. Coloured coatings, emboss markings and printing can be used to aid tablet recognition.
A coating may be applied to:
• mask the taste of the tablet's components.
• make the tablet smoother and easier to swallow.
• Provide protection from external and internal environment.
• Extend the shelf life.
e.g. Panadol tablets
2- CAPSULES
Capsules are solid dosage forms enclosed in a hard or soft shell composed primarily of gelatin or other
suitable polymeric material. They may be cylindrical, spherical or ovoid shape.
e.g. Vibramycin capsules
3- POWDER
It is a mixture of two or more medicines in finely divided [Link] minimum weight of a powder for
internal use is 120 mg.

e.g. Cicatrin Powder

4- GRANULES
They are consisting of solid, dry aggregates of powder particles often supplied in single-dose sachets.
Some granules are placed on the tongue and swallowed with water, others are intended to be dissolved
in water before taking. Effervescent granules evolve carbon dioxide when added to water. e.g. Progaf
granules
5- PILLS
A medicinal preparation in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole.
e .g Oral contraceptive pills
B. RECTAL DOSAGE FORMS
Advantages:
• Less intestinal and hepatic first pass effect, so better bioavailability.
• Can be given to unconscious/ uncooperative/ vomiting/ paediatric patients
• Can be given to produce local drug effects only
Disadvantages:
• Rectal absorption can be irregular and incomplete
• Certain drugs can cause irritation of the rectal mucosa
• Improper administration especially with enemas can rupture the bowel or damage rectal tissues resulting
in internal bleeding
1- SUPPOSITORY
Suppositories are solid forms intended for introduction into body cavities (usually rectal but also
vaginal and urethral) where they melt, releasing the drug.
e.g. Dulcolax
2- ENEMA
 Enemas can be aqueous or oily solutions usually administered for local or systemic drug action or for
diagnostic purposes.
e.g. Kleen enema
C. PAERENTERAL DOSAGE FORM
1- INJECTIONS
Injections are usually sterile solutions or suspensions of drugs in water or other suitable physiologically
acceptable vehicles. They are dispensed either as vials or ampoules.

Advantages:
• Used to administer drugs that may be inactivated or not tolerated when given by mouth.
• Has rapid onset of action and can be used in emergency situations.
Disadvantages:
• Increased risk of adverse effects as high concentrations of drug may be attained rapidly in both plasma
and tissues.
• Once the drug is injected, there is often no retreat.
a. Vials
Vials are containers usually made of glass sealed with a synthetic rubber closure held in place by
an aluminium seal crimped around the neck of the glass vial.
e.g. Augmentin Vial
Advantage:
• permit multiple withdrawals
Disadvantage:
• right amount of solvent should be added otherwise either too concentrated or too diluted solution
would be prepared.
b. Ampoule
Ampoules are small-volume parenteral products often packaged in glass or plastic and used for
single use, unpreserved products.
e.g. Lasix ampoules
Advantages:
• Ampoule is that it is easy to administer as a single shot
• Do not require preparation
Disadvantages:
• Chances of glass particle contamination when medication is aspirated after breaking the tip
• mixing of ampoules as most have same size and shape with chances of wrong administration of
drugs.
2- INFUSIONS
Infusions are large volume sterile aqueous solutions or emulsions, typically ranging in volume from 100
mL to 1000 mL.
e.g. Ringer lactate
Advantages:
• For slow parenteral administration of drugs.
• For fluid replacement, large volume of fluids/drugs can be given.
• Infusion pumps are specialized time controlled delivery systems.
Disadvantages:
• Associated pain, infection and phlebitis.
• Discomfort as patient had to bear it for longer period of time.
• Embolism and extravasation of fluid in neighbouring tissues can be a problem.
D. INHALATIONAL DOSAGE FORMS
1- AEROSOL INHALATION
It consists of a solution or suspension of a medicine in a mixture of inert propellant that is held under
pressure in an aerosol dispenser that consists of a special metering valve.
 e.g. Ventolin inhaler
Advantages:
• Drugs can be delivered to lungs only.
• Lesser systemic effects.
• Dose can be altered according to patient’s response.
• Spacer devices can be used along with for paediatric patients.
Disadvantages:
• Proper technique is required for optimum dose.
• Deposition of drug in mouth and oropharynx associated with side effects.
2- NASAL SPRAYS
These are the preparations of medicines in aqueous, alcoholic or glycerol containing media to be
applied to the throat or nose by means of an atomizer.
e.g. Xynosine nasal spray.
E. TOPICAL DOSAGE FORMS
Advantages:
• Applied to a localized area of the body usually with lesser systemic side effects.
• Can be applied to unconscious/uncooperative patients.
• Can be used to get sustained drug levels over longer period of time systemically like Nitro-glycerine patch.
Disadvantage:
• Ingredients can cause irritation to skin or mucous membrane.
1- CREAMS
Creams are semisolid preparations, often medicated, intended for external application to the skin and
mucous membranes. They can be o/ w emulsions (aqueous creams) or w/ o emulsions (oily creams).
e.g. Canesten cream.
2- OINTMENTS
Ointments are semi-solid preparations that are usually self-occlusive and are generally used on dry
lesions.
e.g. Polyfax ointment
3- LOTION
A lotion is a liquid preparation intended for application without friction/ rubbing.
e.g. Calamine lotion
4- TRANSDERMAL PATCHES
These are patches that attaches to your skin and vary in complexity from simple two-phase to multi-
phase systems to deliver a constant and controlled dosage over extended periods of time for systemic
therapy.
e.g. Nicotine patch
5- GELS
Gels are typically formed from a liquid phase that has been thickened with other components and may
contain dissolved (single phase) or dispersed (two phase) drug in a semi-solid system.
e.g. Voltaren gel
6- NASAL DROPS
These are liquid preparations for instillation into nostrils by means of a dropper.
e.g. Ephedrine nasal drop

7- EYE DROPS
These are sterile solutions or suspensions for instillation into eyes.
e.g. Chloramphenicol Eye Drops
8- EAR DROPS
These are fluid preparations containing drugs suspended in water, glycerin, alcohol, propylene glycol
or other suitable solvents and are intended for instillation into the ear.
 e.g. Chloramphenicol Ear Drops
9- GARGLES
These are aqueous solutions usually in concentrated form intended for use after dilution, as a
prophylactic or in the treatment of infection of the throat.
e.g. Phenol Gargles

10- MOUTH WASHES

These are aqueous solutions in concentrated form of substance with deodorant, antiseptic, local
analgesic or astringent properties.
e.g Listerine Mouthwash
11- PASTES
These are semisolid preparations for external application and consist of medicine mixed with soft or
liquid paraffin or with a non-greasy base made with glycerol or soap. They are used as antiseptic and
protective.
e.g. Zinc Paste
12- PAINTS
These are liquid preparations for application to the skin or mucous surfaces. These are usually
medicated with substances possessing antiseptic, caustic or analgesic properties.
e.g. Throat Paints
13- DUSTING POWDER
Mixture of two or more substances in fine powder and intended for external application and should not
be applied to open wounds or on raw surface of large area.
e.g. Borax, Zinc and Starch Dusting Powder
14- LOZENGES
They consist of medicine incorporated in the flavoured bases. They are intended to dissolve or
disintegrate slowly in mouth.
e.g. Strepsils
15- PESSARIES
These are solid bodies suitably shaped for vaginal administration and containing drugs where are
usually intended to act locally.
e.g. Nystatin Pessaries
16- POULTICE
These are thicky pasty preparations usually intended to be made extemporaneously for application to
the skin with the object of reducing inflammation and pain.
e.g. Kaolin Poultice