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DOSAGE FORMS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Solid Dosage Forms and Solid Modified-Release Drug Delivery System
-Powders and Granules
o Powder: intimate mixtures of dry, finely divided drugs and/or chemicals
that may be intended for internal or external use
Medicated Powders: taken orally after mixing with water,
inhaled for local and systemic effects, for use as an
injection, as a vaginal douche
Aerosol Powders: administered by inhalation with the aid
of dry-powder inhalers which deliver micronized particles
of medication in metered quantities
Bulk and Divided Powders: Medicated powders may be
provided to the patient in bulk or may be divided into
unit-of-use packages. Some powders are packaged by
manufacturers, whereas others are prepared and packaged
by the pharmacist
o Granules: prepared agglomerates of powdered materials may be used per
se for pharmaceutical purposes
Effervescent and Granulated Salts: Effervescent salts are
granules or coarse to very coarse powders containing a
medicinal agent in a dry mixture usually composed of
sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, and tartaric acid
-Capsules: Solid dosage forms in which medicinal agents and/or inert substances are
enclosed in a small shell of gelatin
o Hard Gelatin Capsules: used in most commercial medicated capsules.
Empty capsule shells are made of gelatin, sugar, and water
o Soft Gelatin Capsules: made of gelatin to which glycerin or a polyhydric
alcohol such as sorbitol has been added
-Tablets: solid dosage forms usually prepared with the aid of suitable pharmaceutical
excipients. Tablets are prepared primarily by compression, with a limited number
prepared by molding
o Compressed Tablets: tablets for oral, buccal, sublingual, or vaginal
administration may be prepared by compression
o Multiply Compressed Tablets: prepared by subjecting the fill material to
more than a single compression. The result may be a multiple-layer tablet
or a tablet within a tablet, the inner tablet being the core and the outer
portion being the shell
o Sugarcoated Tablet: sugarcoat protects the enclosed drug from the
environment and provides a barrier to objectionable taste or odor. The
sugarcoat also enhances the appearance of the compressed tablet and
permits imprinting of identifying manufacturers information

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Film-coated Tablets: compressed tablets coated with a thin layer of a
polymer capable of forming a skinlike film. The film is usually colored,
more durable, less bulky, and less time-consuming to apply
o Gelatin-Coated Tablets: The gelatin coating facilitates swallowing, and
gelatin-coated tablets are more tamper evident than unsealed capsules.
o Enteric-Coated Tablets: have delayed-release features. They are designed
to passs unchanged through the stomach to the intestines.
o Buccal and Sublingual Tablets: flat, oval tablets intended to be dissolved
in the buccal pouch or beneath the tongue for absorption through the oral
mucosa
o Chewable Tablets: smooth, rapid disintegration when chewed or allowed
to dissolve in the mouth, have a creamy base, usually of specially flavored
and colored mannitol.
o Effervescent Tablets: prepared by compressing granular effervescent salts
that release gas when in contact with water. These tablets generally
contain medicinal substances that dissolve rapidly when added to water
o Molded Tablets: very soft and soluble and are designed for rapid
dissolution
o Tablet Triturates: small, usually cylindrical, molded or compressed tablets
containing small amounts of usually potent drugs.
o Hypodermic Tablets: used by physicians in extemporaneous preparation
of parenteral solutions.
o Dispensing Tablets: contained large amounts of highly potent drug
substances
o Intermediate-Release Tablets: designed to disintegrate and release their
medication with no special rate-controlling features, such as special
coatings and other techniques.
o Extended-Release Tablets: designed to release their medication in a
predetermined manner over an extended period
o Vaginal Tablets: uncoated, bullet-shaped or ovoid tablets inserted into the
vagina for local effects. They contain antibacterials for the treatment of
nonspecific vaginitis
-Solid Oral Modified-Release Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery System
In general, the drugs best suited for incorporation into an extended-release
product have the following characteristics:
-They exhibit neither very slow nor very fast rates of absorption and
excretion
-They are uniformly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract
-They are administered in relatively small doses
-They possess a good margin of safety
-They are used in the treatment of chronic rather than acute conditions
Semisolid Dosage Forms and Transdermal Systems
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-Ointments, Creams, and Gels
o Ointments: semisolid preparations intended for external application to
the skin or mucous membranes
o Creams: semisolid preparations containing one or more medicinal agents
dissolved or dispersed in either a W/O emulsion or an oil-in-water
emulsion or in another type of water-washable base
o Gels: semisolid systems consisting of dispersions of small or large
molecules in an aqueous liquid vehicle rendered jellylike by the addition
of a gelling agent.
o Pastes: semisolid preparations intended for application to the skin. They
generally contain a larger portion of solid material and therefore are
stiffer
o Plasters: solid or semisolid adhesive masses spread on a backing of a
paper, fabric, moleskin, or plastic. Medicated plasters provide effects at
the site of application.
o Glycerogelatins: plastic masses containing gelatin, glycerin, water, and an
added medicinal substance, such as zinc oxide Glycerogelatins are
applied to the skin for the long term
-Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems
Transdermal drug delivery systems facilitate the passage of therapeutic
quantities of drug substance through the skin and into the general circulation for their
systemic effects
Pharmaceutical Inserts
-Suppositories and Inserts
o Suppositories: solid dosage forms intended for insertion into the body
orifices where they melt, soften, or dissolve and exert local or systemic
effects.
Rectal Suppositories: rectal route for administration is
especially useful if the patient is unwilling or unable to
take medication by mouth
Urethral Suppositories: thinner and tapered, often about
5mm in diameter. They have been used in the treatment of
local infections.
Vaginal Suppositories: employed principally to combat
infections in the female genitourinary tract, to restore the
vaginal mucosa to its normal state, and for contraception
o Vaginal Inserts: usually ovoid and are accompanied in their packaging
with a plastic inserter, a device for easy placement of the tablet within the
vagina. Some vaginal inserts are capsules of gelatin-containing
medication to be released intravaginally.
Liquid Dosage Forms

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-Solutions: liquid preparations that contain one or more chemical substances dissolved
in a suitable solvent or mixture of mutually miscible solvents.
o Syrups: concentrated aqueous preparations of sugar or sugar substitute
with or without flavoring agents
o Elixirs: clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic solutions intended for oral use
and are usually flavored to enhance their palatability.
o Tinctures: alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions prepared from vegetable
materials or from chemical substances
o Topical Solutions: employ an aqueous vehicle
o Sprays: aqueous or oleaginous solutions in the form of coarse droplets or
as finely divided solids to be applied topically, most usually to the
nasopharyngeal tract or to the skin.
o Vaginal Douche: powders are used to prepare solutions for vaginal
douche, i.e., for irrigation cleansing of the vagina.
o Aromatic Waters: clear, aqueous solutions saturated with volatile oils or
other aromatic or volatile substances.
o Diluted Acids: aqueous solutions prepared by diluting the correspondent
concentrated acids with purified water.
o Spirits: alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of volatile substances. Spirits
may be used pharmaceutically as flavoring agents and medicinally for the
therapeutic value of the aromatic solute.
o Liniments: alcoholic or oleaginous solutions or emulsions of various
medicinal substances intended to be rubbed on the skin
o Collodions: liquid preparations composed of pyroxylin dissolved in a
solvent mixture usually composed of alcohol and ether with or without
added medicinal substances.
-Disperse Systems
o Suspensions: containing finely divided drug particles distributed
somewhat uniformly throughout a vehicle in which the drug exhibits a
minimum degree of solubility.
o Emulsions: dispersion in which the dispersed phase is composed of small
globules of a liquid distributed throughout a vehicle in which it is
immiscible
o Gels and Magmas: Gels are semisolid systems consisting of dispersions
made up of either small inorganic particles or large organic molecules
enclosing and interpenetrated by a liquid. When the gel mass consists of
floccules of small, distinct particles, the gel is classified as a two-phase
system and frequently called a magma.
o Aerosols: pressurized dosage forms that upon actuation emit a fine
dispersion of liquid and/or solid materials containing one or more active
ingredients in a gaseous medium
Sterile Dosage Forms and Delivery Systems

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-Parenterals
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o
o

o
o

Injections: sterile, pyogen limited, that is, bacterial endotoxin units limit,
preparations intended to be administered parenterally
Small Volume Parenterals: injection packaged in containers labeled as
containing 100mL or less.
Insulins: insulin is administered to patients with abnormal or absent
pancreatic beta cell function to restore glucose metabolism and maintain
satisfactory carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism
Large-Volume Parenterals: single-dose injection intended for IV use, and
is packaged in containers labeled as containing more than 100mL
Irrigation and Dialysis Solutions: not injected to the vein but employed
outside of the circulatory system.

-Biologics
-Special Solutions and Suspensions
Novel and Advanced Dosage Forms, Delivery Systems, and Devices
-Radiopharmaceuticals
-Products of Biotechnology
-Novel Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Technologies
REFERENCE:
-L. Allen, N. Popovich, H. Ansel. Ansels Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery
Systems 19th ed. Lippincott Williamsa& Wilkins. 2011.