Glossary of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems

Fluidextracts

Fluidextracts are liquid extractives of vegetable drugs containing alcohol as a solvent, preservative, or both and so made that unless otherwise specified in an individual monograph, each milliliter contains the therapeutic constituents of 1 g of the standard drug.

Gargle

Gargles are aqueous solutions containing antiseptics, antibiotics, and/or anaesthetics, usually in concentrated form, intended for the treatment of the membranous lining of the throat.

Gels

Gels (sometimes called jellies) are semisolid preparations that contain either suspensions of small inorganic particles or large organic molecules interpenetrated by a liquid. Gels made of inorganic materials are usually two-phase systems where small discrete particles are dispersed throughout the dispersion medium. When the particle size of the dispersed phase is larger, they are referred to as magmas. Gels made of organic molecules are single-phase systems, where no apparent physical boundary is seen between the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium.

Implants or Pellets

Implants or pellets are small, sterile, solid mass containing a highly purified drug with or without excipients securely placed (inserted or grafted) into the body where they continuously release their medication over prolonged periods. They are made by compression or molding and are placed inside the body by injection or incision.

Inhalations

Inhalations are finely powdered drug substances, solutions, or suspensions of drug substances administered by the nasal or oral respiratory route for local or systemic effects. Special devices are used to facilitate their administration.

Injections

Injections are sterile pharmaceutical preparations intended for parenteral administration by needle or pressure syringe through the skin. An injection may be a solution, suspension, emulsion, or a dry powder which is reconstituted in a suitable vehicle prior to administration. They may be small-volume injections, packaged in ampules for single-dose administration, or vials for multiple-dose injections. Large-volume parenterals containing 100 mL to 1 liter of fluid, are intended for the slow intravenous administration (or infusion) of medications and/or nutrients in the institutional or home care setting.

Irrigations

Irrigations are sterile solutions intended to bathe or flush open wounds or body cavities. They are not intended for injection.

Linctus

Linctuses are viscous liquid preparation containing one or more medicament dissolved in a vehicle that usually contains high proportion of sucrose or other sugars. Linctuses are administered in small dose volumes and should be sipped and swallowed slowly without the addition of water.

Liniments

Liniments are alcoholic or oleaginous solutions, suspensions, or emulsions of medicinal agents intended for external application to the skin, generally by rubbing.

Lotions

Lotions are low- to medium-viscosity medicated or nonmedicated preparations intended for external application to unbroken skin. They are generally suspensions or emulsions of dispersed solid or liquid materials in an aqueous vehicle. Their fluidity allows rapid and uniform application over a wide skin surface. Lotions are intended to soften the skin and leave a thin coat of their components on the skin’s surface as they dry.

Lozenges

Lozenges are solid preparations containing one or more medicinal agents in a flavored, sweetened base intended to dissolve or disintegrate slowly in the mouth, releasing medication generally for localized effects. Over-the-counter lozenges for relief of sore throat are a common example of this dosage form. Cough suppressants, antibiotics, antiseptics, and analgesics are also available as lozenges.

Magmas

Magmas are pharmaceutical suspensions of fine particles that, because of a high degree of physical attraction to the aqueous vehicle, form a gelatinous mixture. This characteristic maintains the uniformity and stability of the suspension. Magmas differ from gels in that the suspended particles are larger.

Mixture

Mixtures are liquid oral preparation consisting of one or more medicaments dissolved, suspended or diffused in an aqueous vehicle. They are usually freshly or recently prepared and are used fairly quickly, usually within a month for short term therapy like cough, diarrhea, constipation, etc.

Mouthwash (Mouthrinse)

Mouthwashes are aqueous solution, often in concentrated form, intended for local treatment of the membranous lining of the mouth and gums.

Ointments

Ointments are semisolid preparations consisting of one or more medicaments dissolved or dispersed in a suitable base. They are intended for topical application to the skin, eye, ear, or various mucous membranes. With some exceptions, ointments are applied for their local effects on the tissue membrane rather than for systemic effects. Ophthalmic ointments are sterile preparations intended for application to the eye. Nonmedicated ointments serve as vehicles, or as ointment bases, in the preparation of medicated ointments. Because ointments are semisolid preparations, they are prepared and dispensed on a weight basis.

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