Gels are the aqueous colloidal suspensions of the hydrated forms of insoluble drugs. A gel is a solid, jellylike material that has properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady state. Gels are mostly liquid, but they…
Mixture is a liquid preparation meant for oral administration in which the medicament or medicaments are dissolved or suspended in a suitable vehicle. In general, several doses are dispensed in a bottle. A container with one dose is called “draught.” Mixtures are mainly prescribed for acute conditions such as cough, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation. They…
Suspensions are biphasic liquid dosage forms of medicament in which finely divided solid particles in the range 0.5–5.0 microns are dispersed in a liquid or semisolid vehicle. Suspensions are taken orally or by parenteral route. They are used for both internal and external applications. It is easy to dispense unstable or degradable drugs in suspension…
Linctuses are oral viscous liquid preparations that are generally prescribed for the relief of cough. They contain medicament that has demulcent, sedative, or expectorant action. The usual dose is 5 ml. Linctuses should be taken in small doses, sipped and swallowed slowly without diluting with water to have the maximum and prolonged effect of medicament.…
These are sweetened, flavored hydro-alcoholic preparations usually containing bitter or potent medicaments such as anthelmintics, antihistamines, and sedatives. The alcohol concentration of an elixir is generally between 10% and 40%. Elixirs are clear preparations and are more fluid than syrup because of the use of less-viscous ingredients. They are palatable, and hence, they are often…
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…