Different Types of Dosage Forms

The dosage form is the finalized form of a drug product in which it is marketed for use.
Dosage forms are pharmaceutical preparations in which active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients
are formulated in such a way that it facilitates the administration and delivery of the API.
Dosage forms may be classified based on the route of administration or physical forms.
Aerosol
Aerosols are pressurized dosage forms in which liquid or solid drugs are suspended or dissolved in a gas.
The gas used in aerosol is known as propellant. When we actuate the container a fine mist of liquid or
solid contents having one or more API is discharged.
Cachet
A cache is a dosage form in which a dry powder is enclosed in a shell of rice flour. Cachet is used for
administration of drugs which have unpleasant taste.
There are two types of cachet
 Wet Seal Cachet
 Dry Seal Cachet
Examples
 Sodium aminosalicylate & Isoniazid Cachet.
 Sodium aminosalicylate Cachet
Medicated Water
Medicated water is known as aromatic water.Aromatic water is a liquid dosage form and is defined as
Dilute aqueous solutions of volatile oils or volatile substances is known as aromatic water.Some Aromatic
water have therapeutic activity and most aromatic water are used as flavouring agents.
Example
 Anise water
 Camphor water
 cinnamon water
Capsules Capsule is a solid dosage form in which medicament is enclosed in a soft or hard gelatin shell.
Powders .Powders is solid dosage form containing one or more active ingredients intended for internal or
external use. The powders which are used for internal administration are known as oral powders and those
which are external use are known as dusting powders.
Examples
 Dextrose oral powder, ORS, Risek
 Talc dusting powders,
Insufflations Insufflation is a solid dosage form having finely divided powders which are administered
into body cavities like nose,ear,tooth socket and vagina using an inserting device known as insufflator.
Granules Granules is a solid dosage form in which one or more medicaments in powder form are mixed
with other excipients like diluents,disintegrants etc and are converted into large agglomerates by using
binder solution or application of pressure.
Effervescent Granules Effervescent granules is a type of solid dosage form in which medicament and
excipients are converted into granules containing citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.
Acid and base react with each other in liquid media to release carbon dioxide and medicaments are
dissolved in liquid media.
Tablet Tablet is unit solid dosage form containing one or more active ingredients intended for oral
administration.
Tablets are prepared by wet granulation,dry granulation and direction compression methods.
Lozenges Lozenges are solid dosage forms which contain one or more medications which are dissolved in
the mouth. Lozenges are prepared by moulding or compression methods.

Pessaries Pessaries are unit solid dosage forms which are intended for vaginal use.The pessaries are
manufactured by using bases which remain solid at room temperature but melt or dissolve in vagina.
Suppositories Suppositories are solid dosage forms having conical or ovoid shape and are intended for
insertion into body orifices instead of mouth.
Suppositories are inserted into
 Vagina
 Rectum
 Urethra
Magmas Magmas are thick,viscous aqueous suspension preparations of insoluble inorganic drugs.
Bougie Bougies are solid dosage forms intended to be administered into nostrils or urethra.
Douche Douche is a liquid preparation which is used for cleaning nose or vagina.
Draught Draught is a liquid dosage form contaning very small volume and these are mostly single dose.
Enema Enema is a liquid oily solution or suspension used for rectal administration.
Emulsion Emulsion is a dosage form and is defined as a thermodynamically unstable mixture of two
immiscible liquids. Emulsion is a dosage form in which one liquid in form of globules is dispersed into
other liquid phase.
Implants Implants are small sterile tablets which are intended for insertion under the skin by giving a cut
to the skin and this cut is stitched after placing the tablet inside.
Implants are used to release the drug slowly, usually for 3-6 months.
Solution Tablets Solution tablets are solid dosage forms containing one or more active pharmaceutical
ingredients which are then dissolved in a liquid to form a solution which is then consumed.
Example
 Soluble tablets for mouthwashes
 Soluble tablets for gargles.
Syrup Syrup is liquid dosage form which is sweet,viscous concentrated solution of sucrose or other sugar
in water or in other solvent or vehicle. Simple syrup only has sucrose and purified water.Medicated syrup
contains medicaments and is used for therapeutic purposes.Non medicated Syrup is used as a sweetening
or flavouring agent.
Example
 Lemon syrup
 Tolu syrup
Solutions Solutions are liquid dosage forms in which active pharmaceutical ingredients and other
excipients are dissolved in water.
Suspension Suspension is a liquid dosage form in which finely divided solid particles are suspended or
dispersed in a liquid media. Suspensions are biphasic liquid dosage forms. Suspensions are heterogeneous
systems having two phases,continuous phase is liquid or semisolid phase and second is dispersed or
internal phase and is composed of insoluble matter.
Mouthwash Mouthwash is liquid dosage form and is also known as oral rinse,mouth rinse.It is a liquid
preparation which is held in the mouth for some time for antiseptic or astringent effect.
Creams Creams are semisolid preparations in which one or more medicaments are dissolved or dispersed
in an emulsion system.
Ointment Ointment is a semisolid dosage form which is used for external application to the skin or
mucous membrane.
For preparation of ointment along with API different types of ointment bases are used.
Ointment may be medicated or non medicated.
Ointments are translucent in appearance.
Ophthalmic Ointment Ophthalmic ointments are sterile preparations which are intended for insertion
into eyes.
Paste Pastes are semisolid dosage forms containing a higher percentage of insoluble solids. Pasts are for
external use.
Gels Gels are semisolid dosage forms containing dispersion of small or large size molecules in liquid
vehicles.Gels are prepared by fusion process.Gels are also known as jellies.

Tincture Tinctures are liquid dosage forms which are prepared by dissolving the vegetable drugs in
alcoholic solvent.
Spirit Spirit are liquid dosage forms and are prepared by dissolving the active pharmaceutical ingredients
in 90% alcoholic vehicle.
Collodions. Collodions is a dosage form which is liquid preparation and is used externally to the skin.
Syrup-like preparation of nitrocellulose in ether and alcohol is known as collodions. Collodions should
Store away from fire.
Sprays Sprays are liquid dosage forms containing medicaments in alcoholic,glycerine or aqueous
vehicles.
Nasal Drops Nasal drops are liquid dosage forms containing medicaments in liquid vehicles and are
intended for insertion into nostrils.
Paints Paints are liquid preparations in which medicament is dissolved in a volatile solvent and have a
higher portion of glycerine. Paints are applied to the throat.
Irrigations
Irrigations are liquid preparations which contain medicament and are used for washing blader, vagina or
nose to treat the infection.
Linctus Linctus are sweet vicious liquid preparations having medicinal substances used for
expectorant,sedative effect.
Liniments Liniments are liquid or semisolid preparations which are applied to the skin by rubbing or by
friction.
Injections Injections are sterile preparations in which medicaments are dissolved or suspended in a
suitable vehicle.
Inhalations Inhalations are liquid preparations containing volatile substances.
Lotions Lotions are liquid suspensions or dispersions used for external application.
Lotions are applied without friction.
Eye Lotions Eye lotions are sterile preparations which are used for irrigating the eyes.
Eye & Ear Drops These are sterile liquid preparations in which medicaments are dissolved or suspended
in a vehicle and are intended to be introduced into the eye or ear.
Dentifrices These are preparations which are applied for the cleaning of teeth.
Elixirs Elixirs are liquid preparations which contain higher alcoholic levels and are for oral
administration.
What is Production?
All the activities involved in the manufacturing of a pharmaceutical product starting from receipt of raw
materials to the completion of a finished product means, from Raw material Receipt to Finished product
dispatch. It contains the handling of manpower and recording of the manufacturing and the packing
activity
What is Batch Manufacturing Record(BMR)
BMR is a Document that provides a history of a batch mean how a product is manufactured step by step
following written procedures.
It contains signs of qualified persons and operators involved in manufacturing.
Define Tablet Tablet is a solid dosage form prepared by a combination of API and Excipients by
application of pressure.
What is API API stands for Active pharmaceutical ingredient. API is a substance that gives
pharmacological effects.
What is ExcipientInert materials which do not give any pharmacological effect.

Classification of Excipients for Solid Dosage form

 Diluents ,Binders , Disintegrants , Glidents, Lubricants, Colourants, Flavours
Tests for Tablet
Weight variation ,Thickness ,Hardness ,Friability ,Disintegration, Dissolution, Assay, Content uniformity
what are Defects of Tablet
 Capping .Lamination, Sticking, Picking, Weight Variation
What is Disintegration
The time needed for tablet or capsule to break down into particles which pass through # 10 mesh and no
solid mass is left.
What is Disintegration Time of Capsules 30 Min.
What is Disintegration Time of uncoated tablet Not more than 15 minutes.
What is Disintegration Time of Film-coated tabs? Not more than 30 minutes.
What is Disintegration Time sugar-coated tablets? Not more than 60 minutes.
What is Disintegration Time of Enteric-coated table?
Tablets which have Enteric-coating should not disintegrate for 2 hours in acidic media and then these
tablets when placed in basic media should disintegrate within 1 hour.
What is the limit of friability Not more than 1%
Defects of Coating
 Sticking, Colour variation ,Orange peel effect, logo filling, chipping, Film cracking
Types of coating
1. Film Coating 2. Enteric Coating 3.Sugar Coating
What is HVAC?
Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning
Functions Of HVAC
Prevent cross-contamination ,Maintain Temperature, Maintain Humidity, Create Differential Pressure,
Maintain Air Changes
Types of capsules
 Hard Gelatin Capsule , Soft Gelatin Capsule
Revolution of Friability 25 rpm per minute and run-time is 4 minutes.
Name of 3 Natural binders
 Starch ,Cellulose, Gelatin
Name OF Synthetic Binder PVP k 30 or kollidon, povidone.
Why do we manufacture granules?
Granules are prepared for tablet compression because of the following main reasons.
 To enhance flow because powders flow is poor.
 To prevent weight variation.
 To reduce dusty environment because powders are dustier.
 To prevent segregation.
 To improve content uniformity.
 To improve compaction.
 Powders are elastic so tend to cap but granules are plastic so prevent tablet capping.
What is a rat hole?
Rat hole is a powder flow defect in which powder adheres to the walls of compression machine hopper or
blender walls and stops the flow against walls creating a hole in the middle. It results in weight variation
and fragile tablets during compression.
What is Biopharmaceutics?
The study of the relationship between physiological, physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of
API and dosage based on biological performance of drugs is known as Biopharmaceutics.
Biopharmaceutics Consideration of API for Drug Design?
Following are some main important biopharmaceutics considerations for API,
 Solubility
 Stability
 Crystalline Form
 Particle Size
 Salt form
 Impurities
 Complexation
 pH & pka
 Interaction with excipients.
Which Analytical Techniques are used to check API & Excipient compatibility?
Following are some most widely used techniques which are used to study drug excipient interaction or to
check compatibility of API with Excipients.
 Differential Scanning Calorimetry(DSC)
 Chromatography Techniques as TLC or HPLC
 Microcalorimetry
Which are the excipients which may result in a Maillard reaction?
Following are some commonly used excipients which may case Maillard Reaction
 Lactose, MCC, Starch
What is a Maillard Reaction?
The reaction between reducing sugars and amino acids at high temperature results in brown colouration
and this reaction is known as Maillard reaction.
How many years does a new drug take for its development?
Development of a new drug is a very lengthy process and consists of many stages like preformulation,
preclinical ,clinical studies and it usually takes 10-15 years for a successful drug development.
What is a Pro Drug?
A pharmacologically inactive drug which after administration into the body is converted into a
pharmacologically active drug by metabolism is known as pro drug.
Or
Pro drugs are synthetic derivatives of drugs which have intrinsic pharmacological activity but require
transformation in the body to release the drug.
What is the partition Coefficient?
The ratio of unionized drug at equilibrium distributed between aqueous phase and organic phase is known
as partition coefficient.
What is Polymorphism?
The ability of a compound to crystallize as more than one crystalline form with different internal lattices is
known as polymorphism.
What is the Noyes Whitney Equation?
Noyes Whitney equation is used to describe the dissolution rate of a drug.
What is the LADMER System?
LADMER has great importance during drug development and is as follow,
 L=Drug libration, A=Absorption, D=Distribution, M=Metabolism, E=Excretion, R=Drug
Therapeutic Response
What is Absorption?
The amount of unchanged drug which reaches the general circulation is known as absorption.
What are the mechanisms for Drug absorption?
Drugs may be absorbed by following
 Passive Diffusion
 Active Transport
 Carrier Mediated Transport
 Facilitated Diffusion
 Carrier mediated intestinal Transport
 Vesicular Transport
What is Shunting? The process in which a drug enters into body fluid (other than blood) before or after
entering into systemic circulation.
Example
 Example of shunting is secretion of drug from blood into parotid.
 Liver sometimes secrete drugs from blood into bile.
Drug Distribution
The reversible transfer of drug between blood and extravascular fluids and tissues is known as
distribution.
What is drug Protein binding?
Drug protein binding is a process in which the drug binds reversibly to the protein molecule.
Unbound drug is required to give its effect and binding of drug with proteins reduces the elimination rate.
As we know proteins consist of amino acids so type and position of amino acid in protein molecules
determine the binding of drug to the protein.
Composition of Blood plasma.
Human blood plasma consists of 93% of water and 7 % consist of different types of dissolved compounds
mainly proteins.The major protein found is albumin.
What is the Molecular Weight Of Human Albumin?
Molecular weight of human albumin is approximately 67500 daltons.
Human albumin consists of how many amino acids?
Human albumin consists of 20 different amino acids.
Name the amino acids which binds with acidic drugs
Following are the amino acids which have basic groups and with which acidic drugs bind,
 Arginine, Histidine, Lysine
Name the amino acids which bind with Basic drugs?
Following are the amino acids which have acidic groups and with which basic drugs are bind,
 Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Tyrosine
What is Biotransformation (Metabolism)
Metabolism or biotransformation is defined as The process in which a drug is chemically converted into
other compounds in the body is known as metabolism.
What is the first Pass Effect?
Drugs absorbed from GIT first go to the liver before entering into systemic circulation and in liver
biotransformation or metabolism of drugs occur and this process is known as first pass effect.
Due to the first pass effect the systemic availability of drugs is reduced and bioavailability is also reduced.
Excretion
The removal of drugs from the body is known as excretion.
Which are drug excretion routes?
Drug from body may be excreted by following,
 Excretion through kidney, Excretion through Bile, Excretion through Saliva, Excretion through
Lungs, Excretion through Milk , Excretion through Sweat