Aromatic waters are clear, saturated solutions of aromatic substances, which may be volatile oil dissolved in water. Due to their flavoring properties, they are used as a vehicle for oral liquid preparations. Aromatic waters also have preservative action, due to which they are used as menstrum to extract crude drugs. Aromatic waters have mild therapeutic…

Spirits are alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of volatile substances and they contain 50–90% of alcohol. The high-alcoholic contents maintain water-insoluble oils in solution. If water is added to a spirit the oil gets separated. They are prepared by dissolving the volatile substances in 90% ethanol. They are mainly used as flavoring agents and some spirits…

Syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water. It may also contain various aromatic or pleasantly flavored substances but is nonmedicated and generally used as a vehicle, as a flavoring agent, or for preservation. Due to high osmotic pressure, simple syrup I.P. prevents the growth of bacteria, fungi,…

Draught is a monophasic liquid oral preparation taken as a single dose. If several doses are prescribed, each dose is dispensed in a separate container. Each dose is of the order of about 50 ml. Examples are male fern extract draught and paraldehyde draught.

A solution is a homogenous mixture composed of only one phase for a multidose administration. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance known as the solvent. The concentration of a solute in a solution is a measure of the quantity of solute dissolved in the solvent. However, solutions are less stable…

Insufflations are meant for being blown into various body tracts or cavities. They are medicated dusting powders meant for introduction into the body cavities such as nose, throat, ears, and vagina with the help of an apparatus known as ‘insufflator’. It sprays the powder into a stream of finely divided particles all over the site…

These are bulk solid powder or granules, generally containing soap or detergent and a mild abrasive used externally with or without brush in the buccal cavity. Dentifrices reduce plaque formation, strengthen teeth against dental carries, remove stains and food debris, moisturize dry mouth, increase sensitivity, and prevent halitosis.

Capsules are unit solid dosage forms in which the drug is enclosed within a hard or soft soluble container or shell usually made up of gelatin. The medication incorporated may be a powder in case of hard gelatin capsules and a solid/liquid/semisolid mass in soft gelatin capsules. Capsules are usually intended to be administered orally…

Tablets are solid preparations containing a single dose of one or more active ingredients with or without excipients and prepared by compressing uniform volumes of particles. Tablets are intended for oral administration. They are either swallowed, chewed, dissolved, or dispersed in water before administration. Tablets are generally prepared by three methods, namely dry granulation (slugging),…

Cachets offer a means of administering comparatively large amounts of disagreeable powders, but they offer very little protection from light, moisture, or mechanical handling. They are also large to swallow and must be moistened by immersion in water immediately prior to swallowing with water. Cachets vary in size from three-fourth of an inch to one-eighth…