Forms of Drugs| Different Types of Dosage forms with examples.

Drugs are given in different forms. There are many forms of drugs to suit the needs of individual patients.

The same drug is made in different forms for ease of administration, pharmacology and patient-related factors.

For example, pain killers like diclofenac are available as a tablet, injections, and even ointments.

Tablets can be consumed voluntarily by the patient for their effect on the whole of the body.

While injection form is given for unconscious patient and ointment is applied for local effect (like one portion of the body).

As such, there are many forms of drugs for different purposes.

Forms of Drugs

Following are different drug formulations available.

1. Tablets
2. Capsules
3. Chewable tablets
4. Injections
5. Powders
6. Solutions
7. Emulsions
8. Suspensions
9. Lotions
10. Creams
11. Ointments
12. Effervescent granules
13. Aerosols
14. Gasses.
15. Suppositories

Tablets

• These are the most common forms of drugs available in the market.

• They are economical, easy to handle, and consumed by the patient.

• They can be swallowed with a glass of water.

• They are of different shapes like circular, rectangular, etc.

• They are also of different types like film-coated, sugar-coated ones, etc.

2. Capsules

• These are similar to tablets in the ease of administration.

• They have two gelatin shells in which active drug ingredients are packed.

• They are also quite popular like tablets but are comparatively expensive to make.

• The advantage is they can include a liquid form of drug and also incompatible formulations in their shells.

3. Chewable tablets

• These are similar to tablets in appearance but they are large in size with attractive color, odor, and sweet taste.

• They are meant to be chewed in the mouth for the drug to release and show its effects. Eg: Antacid tablets.

4. Injections

These are solution-based formulations that are given by the parenteral route.

They are preferred for an unconscious patient or in case of an emergency.

The drug action by this method starts almost immediately.

They are of different types based on the site of injection.

5. Powders

• These are solid dosage forms and are in powder format.

• They are used for dusting and external applications like on wounds, cuts, skin infections, etc.

6. Solutions

These are very popular formulations having a drug dissolved in a suitable solvent.

Swallowing a fixed volume of liquid solution provides sufficient drug needed for by the body treatment.

These solutions are clear liquids but can have color, taste, and also acceptable odor.

These are commonly used for old age patients and children.

The advantage is the faster onset of action and also better absorption of the drug in comparison to tablets.

Eg; Oral syrups, eye drops, ear drops, nasal drops, etc.

7. Emulsions

• This is an interesting formulation wherein a water-insoluble drug is made into a liquid formulation by the addition of a soap-like emulsifying agent.

• This emulsifying agent disperses the water-insoluble drug as fine particles or goblets within the water by forming a film or cover around the drug particles. Read more on types of emulsions.

8. Suspensions

• These are liquid formulations but the difference is they have fine solid particles dispersed in an aqueous liquid.

• These formulations tend to form cream when kept undisturbed for a long time. Hence they have a label “SHAKE WELL BEFORE USE.”

• This helps the settled cream to disperse for uniform dosing of the drug.

9. Ointments

• These are semi-solid dosage forms.

• They can be either solutions, suspensions, or even emulsions but have high viscosity.

• They are intended for application on skin and other surfaces by spreading.

• They are easy to use and have an advantage of local effects to minimize adverse effects of drugs.

10. Effervescent granules

• They are also in the form of effervescent tablets.

• When put into water, they undergo a chemical reaction to produce carbon dioxide gas.

• This when swallowed removes any gas from the stomach and helps in relieving gastric acidity.

11. Aerosols

• These are powder or liquid formulations which are applied by spraying.

• The formulation is released as gaseous dispersion and so can reach deeper locations like the respiratory tract.

12. Gasses

Pure gasses like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are also used as drugs.

13. Suppositories

These are solid dosage forms that are intended for insertion in the anus. They release drugs slowly and are good for local action.