CLASSICAL DOSAGE FORMS

by: Amna Saeed Pharm.D (2009-

2014)

Institute of pharmaceutical Sciences

Lahore College For Women

University

DOSAGE FORMS

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

The different forms in which drugs may be supplied to a patient

These forms are a mixture of active drug components and nondrug components.

CLASSIFICATION OF DOSAGE FORMS

They are classified according to Physical form:

Solid( tablets, pills capsules etc)

Semisolid(ointments,creams etc)

Liquid (syrup, draughts & elixirs etc)

CLASSICAL DOSAGE FORMS

They are the conventional dosage forms in which no advanced or computerized technique is used for their preparation.

These were used in old days and now their use is almost obsolete.

CLASSICAL DOSAGE FORMS

LOZENGES

PILLS

CACHETS

VITRELLAE

DRAUGHTS

SUPPOSITORIES

PESSARIES

LOZENGES

cough drop, troche, cachou,

or cough sweet

A small, medicated candy

intended to be dissolved slowly

in the mouth to lubricate and

soothe irritated tissues of the

throat.

TYPES OF LOZENGES

Hard lozenges ; Hard

lozenges are similar to

hard candy

Soft lozenges;

Chewable lozenges;

popular with the

pediatric population

since they are "gummy-

type" lozenges.

PREPARATION

Compounded lozenges can be prepared by

molding mixtures of ingredients containing:

sugars to form a hard lozenge

polyethylene glycol (PEG) to form a soft

lozenge

gelatin to form a chewable lozenge

LOZENGES

USE: to temporarily stop coughs and lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat(usually due to a sore throat), possibly from the common coldor influenza

Nicotine lozenges are used to help people stop smoking.

NYSTATIN LOZENGES are used to treat fungal infections

LOZENGES

ADVANTAGES:

being easy to administer to pediatric and

geriatric patients.

keeping the drug in contact with the oral

cavity for an extended period of time.

DISADVANTAGE:

One disadvantage of using a "gummy-type"

lozenge with children is they may perceive it

as candy and not a serious dosage form.

LOZENGES

Examples:

Liquorice lozenges

Bismuth Lozenges

Strepsils

Halls

PILLS

Pills are small,

round solid dosage

forms containing a

medicinal agent

and intended to be

administered

orally.

PREPARATION

Pills were made by mixing the active

ingredients with an excipient such as glucose

syrup in a mortar and pestle to form a paste,

then rolling the mass into a long cylindrical

shape (called a "pipe"), and dividing it into

equal portions, which were then rolled into

balls, and often coated with sugar to make

them more palatable

PILLS

Examples

Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory)

• Aspirin (anti-inflammatory)

• Melatonin (sleep aid)

• Chlortrimeton (antihistamine)

• Zantac® (ranitidine: histamine

H 2 –receptor)

Contraceptive pills

CATCHETS

Cachets are the solid unit

dosage forms of medicament

in which drug is enclosed in

tasteless sheet made by

pouring mixture of rice flour

and water between two hot,

polished, revolving cylinders.

Water is evaporated and

sheet of wafer formed is

known is cachet

TYPES

Wet seat cachet:

Sealed by moistening the edges with water.

Dry seal cachet

Administration:

A cachet should be immersed in water for few seconds and then placed on the toungue and swallowed with draught of water.

ADVANTAGE

They are quite useful for

administering the drugs with

unpleasant taste

A large dose can be enclosed

in cachet than in a tablet or

capsule.

CACHETS

Examples:

Sodium amino salicylate cachet.

Isoniazid cachet.

VITRELLAE

Vitrallae are thin walled

glass capsules

containing a volatile

ingredient and

protected by absorbent

cotton wool and an

outer silk bag.

VITRELLAE

Examples :-

amyl nitrite vitrellae

Octyl nitrite vitrellae

DRAUGHTS / HAUSTUS

Liquid oral preparations

packed as a single

dose in separate

containers and in large

volumes are known as

draught.

DRAUGHTS

A draught is an older term used to describe a

liquid preparation formulated as a single

dose, in a volume which is larger than

generally utilised intraditional mixture

formulations

Each draught was usually supplied in a 50mL

unit dose container

DRAUGHTS

Examples:

Ipecacuanha emetic

draughts-BPC

(Treatment of poison)

o the normal dose is 10 or

15 ml and therefore a

multiple dose volume is

prescribed.

DRAUGHTS

Malefern draught-Emulsion

Paraldehyde draughts- Oxidized to acetic

acid and cause death.

PRECAUTION: Do not use, if the solution is

discolored

SUPPOSITORIES

Suppositories are

medicated, solid bodies

of various sizes and

shapes suitable for

introduction into body

cavities other than

mouth, where they melt,

soften, or dissolve and

exert localized or

systemic effects.

SUPPOSITORY BASES

The medicament is incorporated into a base such as

cocoa butter: which melts at body temperature.

glycerinated gelatin or PEG: which slowly dissolves in the mucous secretions

TYPES OF SUPPOSITORIES

Rectal suppositories for adults weigh 2 gm and are torpedo shape.

Children's suppositories weigh about 1 gm.

Vaginal suppositories or Pessaries weigh about 3-5gm

Urethral suppositories called bougies are pencil shape. Those intended for males weigh 4 gm each and are 100-150 mm long.

TYPES OF SUPPOSITORIES

Nasal suppositories: called

nasal bougies or buginaria

meant for introduction in to

nasal cavity.

Ear cones:

Aurinaria and meant for

introduction into ear.

Rarely used

SUPPOSITORIES

ADVANTAGES:

_ Can exert local effect on rectal mucosa.

_ Used to promote evacuation of bowel.

_ Avoid any gastrointestinal irritation.

_ Can be used in unconscious patients.

_ Can be used for systemic absorption of drugs and avoid first-pass metabolism.

− People suffering from severe nausea or vomiting.

SUPPOSITORIES

DISADVANTAGES :

− The problem of patient acceptability.

− Suppositories are not suitable for patients

suffering from diarrhea.

Incomplete absorption may be obtained

because suppository usually promotes

evacuation of the bowel.

SUPPOSITORIES

Examples

Alprostadil pellets

paracetamol ,diclofenac, opiates,

and eucalyptol suppositories

PESSARIES

Pessaries are a type

of suppository

intended for vaginal

use

Pessaries weigh

about 3-5gm

PREPARATION

PESSARIES are:

Molded in globular or

oviform shape

Compressed on a

tablet press into

conical shapes.

USES

Common ingredients for inclusion in pessaries

for local action include:

antiseptics

contraceptive agents

local anaesthetics

various therapeutic agents to treat

infections.

PESSARIES

EXAMPLES:

Cotrimazole pessary:for

treatment of thrush.

clindamycin vaginal

suppository.

Clindamycin &

cotrimazole vaginal

suppository.

REFEREENCES

BOOKS:

REMINGTONSCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF PHARMACY

ANSEL’S PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM.

INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACEUTICS-I BY ASHOK K.GUPTA

COOPER AND GUNN’S DISPENSING FOR PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS

NET:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pessary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pill_(pharmacy)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppository

http://pharmlabs.unc.edu/labs/suppository/routes.htm