DRUG FORMS TYPES OF DOSAGE FORMS A dosage

DRUG FORMS

TYPES OF DOSAGE FORMS • A dosage form refers to the package or container that gives a drug its shape • For example, it might be a capsule or cream or liquid.

CATEGORIES OF FORMS: • Solids • Liquids • Semi-solids • Misc.

SOLIDS • Tablets: solid form that has been compressed • Capsules: gelatin shell encloses drug • Lozenge, troche, or pastille: active ingredients combined with sweetener, dissolves in mouth • Powders: milled and pulverized solid form • Granules: larger than powders, small liquid added to powder • Effervescents: solid form that dissolves in water releasing CO 2 (bubbles)

• • • TABLETS Tablets can be unscored or scored Buccal: dissolve between cheek & gums Sublingual: dissolve under tongue Chewable: (EX: Amoxicillin chewtabs) Effervescent: (EX: Alka-Seltzer) Enteric-coated: coated to delay release of med until reaches intestinal tract (EX: Enteric coated Advil) • Film-coated: thin coat masks taste (EX: Tylenol Caplets). • Extended-release: controls amount delivered over set time.

CAPSULES • Enclosed in hard gelatin shell – Contain powders, granules, or beads – EX: Keflex capsules • Enclosed in soft shell: – Contain liquids – EX: Vitamin E Capsules, – EX: Prozac Pulvule

LOZENGES, PASTILLE, TROCHE • Form of tablets that are not meant to be swallowed but to dissolve in the mouth, which releases the medication more slowly; hard or gummy • Some sources differentiate between the 3 • EX: Cough drops, Mycelex Troches

POWDERS • Powders are solids which has been crushed to make a fine powder • Can be used internally or externally • Internal: typically mixed into a liquid to improve the taste and then swallowed – EX: Questran Powder • External: topical – EX: Tinactin Powder

LIQUIDS • Composed of various solutions • Can be administered by all routes • Provide route for medication for those who cannot chew or swallow solid forms • Have shorter shelf life, often need to be refrigerated.

LIQUIDS • Solution: complete dissolution of medication in liquid • Suspension: dispersion of undissolved particles of medication in a liquid. • Emulsion: dispersion of two undissolvable liquids (like oil and water) • Foam: systems into which gas have been incorporated into a liquid and when released the entrapped gas gives a light consistency. • Colloid: liquid preparations which dry to form a flexible film that can be removed from the skin

TYPES OF SOLUTIONS • Elixir: clear sweet combinations of water and alcohol (EX: Phenobarbitol). • Syrup: aqueous solution thickened with a large amount of sugar or sugar substitute (EX: cough syrup) • Tincture: plant extracts dissolved in water or alcohol (EX: Tincture of Benzoin) – not sweet, many are topical • Mouthwash/Rinse: provide medication to oral cavity (EX: Listerine).

TYPES OF SOLUTIONS con’t • Parenteral Medications: sterile products for injection • Sprays: composed of various bases as alcohol or water in a pump-type dispenser (EX: Nasal decongestant). • Inhalants: variety of forms made to be easily inhaled into respiratory system (EX: Albuterol). • Shampoo: medication to scalp (EX: Lindane Shampoo).

SUSPENSIONS • These are liquids that have very small, solid particles suspended in the base solution • They can be used orally by children and seniors • Suspensions have a “shake well” sticker and a date of expiration • Can be topical or taken internally • EX: Cefzil Oral Suspension

EMULSIONS • The mixture of water and oil when used with an emulsifier binds the two together • In time will settle out into two layers • Must shake well before dispensing • EX: Calamine lotion

SEMISOLIDS • Semisolids contain both liquids and solids • They are meant for topical application • Creams have medications in a base that is part oil and part water and for topical use

SEMISOLID FORMS • Ointments contain medication in a glycol or oil base; they cover the skin surface and keep out moisture • Gels contain medication in a very viscous (thick) liquid that easily penetrates the skin • Pastes contain a smaller amount of liquid base than solids. They are able to absorb skin secretions, unlike other topical agents • Creams contain a small amount of oil dispersed in water

SUPPOSITORIES • Type of semisolid • Designed to melt at internal body temperature (98. 6 F) to release medication into the body • Can have local or systemic effect • Inserted into a body cavity – Rectum – Urethra – Vagina

MISCELLANEOUS FORMS • Implant – A special type of capsule can be implanted under the skin & left in place for up to 5 years – Medication is released in a stair-step method – EX: Implanon • Tape – Applies and secures medication topically – Improves absorption and provides barrier • Transdermal Patch – Holds medication in a reservoir – Provides continual supply over period of time – EX: Nitroderm • Chewing gum: Nicorette