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Looking for liquid dosage forms? Find a CDMO for the formulation development of syrup, solution, suspension, lotion & other liquids on PharmaCompass.
Q1. What are liquid dosage forms and how are they classified?
Pharmaceutical dosage forms are largely divided into solid dosage forms and liquid dosage forms, as well as semi-solid and gaseous pharmaceutical finished dosage forms. Oral solids include tablets, effervescent tablets, capsules, solid sachets, powders, granules and orally dispersible films, whereas liquid dosage forms are available as liquid oral syrups, pharmaceutical solutions, suspensions, dispersions, etc.
Liquid dosage forms are prepared by dissolving active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents, suspending the API in appropriate mediums, or by incorporating the drug substances into oil or water phases.
Furthermore, for the preparation of pharma liquid dosage forms, additive ingredients (excipients) are also needed in addition to the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) or ingredients. These added excipients include vehicles, stabilizers, preservatives, suspending agents, emulsifying agents, solubilizers, colors, flavors, etc.
When developing pharma liquid dosage forms, consideration is first given to the characteristics of the active drug, as the major challenges in oral formulation development & contract manufacturing services for liquid dosage forms are (i) the stability of a drug in a solution, (ii) the solubility of a drug at the required level, and (iii) acceptable taste. The properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) selected for oral administration, therefore, may determine the type of liquid oral formulations that are formed.
Liquid finished dosage forms can be largely divided into two types:
- Monophasic liquid dosage forms such as syrups, linctuses, mixtures, etc. - they have only one phase, the liquid phase.
- Biphasic liquid dosage forms such as suspensions and emulsions - they have two phases, a solid phase and a liquid phase.
Furthermore pharma liquid dosage forms can be classified into the following types:
Oral Liquids - Liquid dosage forms administered orally in the form of pharmaceutical solutions, suspensions and emulsions taken via the oral route of drug administration.
Topical Liquids - Topical liquids are liquid dosage forms administered topically via the dermal route of drug administration.
Sterile/Parenteral Liquids - Sterile liquid products are liquid dosage forms of therapeutic agents that are free from viable microorganisms. Sterile liquids are used as injectable solutions administered parenterally via the subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous route of drug administration.
- Besides topical, parenteral and oral drug delivery, liquids are also used for otic and optic drug delivery.
Liquid dosage forms offer certain benefits over other specialist finished dosage forms such as increased patient compliance, faster absorption, and more flexibility in dosing. Moreover, oral liquid dosage forms are better than tablets or other oral solid dosage forms for patients that have difficulty in swallowing. This makes them the preferred specialist dosage form for pediatric and geriatric patients.
Liquids also absorb faster than oral solids in body fluids and offer flexibility in dosing. Furthermore, liquids are more palatable than oral solid dosage forms. These advantages offered by oral liquids make them an attractive dosage form for oral drug delivery.
Advantages of Liquid Dosage Forms
- Better for patients who have trouble swallowing
- Faster absorption than solids including oral solids
- More flexibility in dosing
- Palatable
- Best choice for geriatric and pediatric patients
Q2. What are oral and topical liquids and what are the different types?
Oral Liquid Dosage Forms
Oral liquids are homogeneous liquid preparations, usually containing a pharmaceutical solution, an emulsion or a pharmaceutical suspension of one or more active ingredients in a suitable liquid base. They are prepared for oral administration either as concentrated pharmaceutical dosage forms or as diluted pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Some Types of Oral Liquid Dosage Forms:
- Solutions
Pharmaceutical solutions are defined as liquid preparations in which active ingredients and various excipients are dissolved in a given solvent. Non sterile solutions are extensively used as dosage forms for the oral drug delivery of therapeutic concoctions.
- Oral Suspensions
In the development of ready-to-use oral dosage forms, oral suspensions are a widely used pharma liquid dosage form. They may be defined as preparations containi