Liquid Dosage Forms

Solutions
“liquid preparations that contain one or more chemical substances dissolved in a suitable solvent or
mixture of mutually miscible solvents”

Classification
 Oral- administration by mouth
 Otic- given through the ear/ears
 Ophthalmic- given on the eye/s
 Topical- dermal surface

Forms of liquid dosage forms

 Syrups- aqueous solutions containing sugar
 Elixirs- sweetened hydroalcoholic solutions
 Spirits- solutions of aromatic materials (alcohol-solvent)
 Aromatic waters- solvent is water/aqueous
 Tinctures-/fluidextracts- solutions prepared by extracting active constituents from crude drugs,
dissolved in alcohol or hydroalcoholic solvent
 Injections- solutions intended for parenteral administration (sterile & pyrogen-free)

Formulative components
 API
 Flavorant
 colorant
 buffers
 Vehicles

SOLUBILITY
Factors affecting Solubility
Temperature- important factor in determining solubility of drug
and in preparing its solution
 Pressure
 pH of solution
 State of subdivision of solute
 Physical agitation
 Physicochemical properties of solute and solvent

Alcohol, glycerin & propylene glycol are widely used as auxiliary solvents
Acetone, ethyl oxide & isopropyl alcohol are too toxic to be permitted to be permitted in
pharmaceutical preparations to be taken internally, but can be used in the extraction of active
constituents from medicinal plants and reagent solvents in organic chemistry.
Some Solvents For Liquid Preparations
Alcohol, USP: Ethyl Alcohol, Ethanol
- Primary solvent in organic compounds
- Together with water, forms hydroalcoholic mixture that dissolves both alcohol soluble and
water soluble substances
- Useful in extraction of active constituents from crude drugs.
Dehydrated Alcohol USP (a.ka. absolute alcohol) contains not < 99.5% C2H5OH by volume
OTC oral drug products restrict the use of alcohol and include appropriate warnings in the label.
Recommended alcohol content limit for: children under 6 years of age: 0.5%
children 6 to 12 years old: 5%
children over 12 years of age and adults: 10%
Diluted Alcohol, NF- prepared by mixing equal volumes of Alcohol, USP & Purified Water, USP
Rubbing Alcohol (syn: alcohol rubbing compd.) - contains 70% ethyl alcohol by volume and the remains
consists of water, denaturants and stabilizers.
Glycerin, USP (Glycerol)- a clear syrupy liquid w/ sweet taste; miscible w/ water and alcohol;
Has preservative qualities, used as stabilizer and auxiliary solvent
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol- has about 70% by volume of isopropyl alcohol, the remains consists of
water, stabilizers and perfume oils.
Propylene Glycol, USP- viscous liquid; substitute for glycerin
Purified Water, USP contains less than 0.1% of total solids; obtained by distillation, ion exchange
treatment and reverse osmosis; not intended for parenteral administration
Naturally Occurring Water is considered impure for they contain amts. of dissolved inorganic salts
along w/organic matter and microorganisms
Tap Water- not acceptable for manufacturing aqueous pharmaceutical preparations or
extemporaneous compounding prescriptions
Preparation of Solutions
1. Dry mixtures for solution- insufficient stability in aqueous solution to meet extended shelf-life
periods.
- dry powder or granule form for reconstitution with a prescribed amount of purified water immediately
before dispensing to the patient
2. Oral solution- commercially prepared oral solution; that required dilution (preparation of a pediatric
form of an adult product; reconstitution; #408
3. Oral Rehydration Solution- available in liquid or powder packet form for reconstitution; these
products should not be mixed with or given with other electrolyte containing liquids, such as milk or
fruit juices
4. Oral Colonic Lavage Solution alternative method to prepare the gastrointestinal tract for a procedure
that requires less time and dietary restriction and obviates cleansing enemas
 the pharmacist reconstitutes this powder with water, creating an iso-osmotic solution having a
mildly salty taste
SYRUPS
 concentrated aqueous preparations of a sugar or sugar substitute with or without flavoring
agents and medicinal substances
= provide a pleasant taste in a means of administering a liquid form of a disagreeable-tasting drug.
Nonmedicated or flavored vehicles (syrups) containing flavoring agents but not medicinal substances;
flavoured vehicles
Medicated syrup- contain therapeutic agent

Composition of Syrups
 Purified/dist water
 API
 Sucrose/sugar
 Antimicrobial preservatives
 flavorants
 Colorants
 Solvents
 Solubilizing agents
 Thickeners
 Stabilizers
 Sugar =sucrose most frequently employed in syrups, sorbitol, glycerin and PEG
 Sucrose content in syrups is usually 60 to 80%

Glycogenetic and Nonglycogenetic Substances (methylcellulose or hydroxyethylcellulose)-are intended

for diabetic patients and others whose diet must be controlled and restricted to nonglycogenetic
substances.
Flavorant- enhance taste with synthetic flavorants or with naturally occurring materials (e.g volatile oils
(orange oil) and vanillin
Colorant- enhance the appeal of the syrup
*coloring agent that correlates with the flavorant employed
*water soluble, nonreactive w/other syrup components
* stable at the pH range and under the intensity of light that the syrup is likely to encounter during its
shelf life.

4 Methods of Preparation of Syrups

1. Solution w/ aid of heat- for components which aren't damaged or volatilized by heat (simple
syrup)
2. Solution by agitation w/out the aid of heat- avoid heat-induced inversion of sucrose
3. Addition of Sucrose to a medicated liquid / flavored liquid- applicable for miscible preparations
(tincture/fluidextract)-p 419
4. Percolation-preparation of the extractive of the drug and then the preparation of the syrup
(ipecac syrup)
STORAGE
 Store in a tight container is a requirement for all syrups. To avoid being attacked by ants.