dosage forms

Question 1

What are the different delivery routes?

Answer 1

*Oral
*Buccal
*Sublingual
*Nasal
*Ocular
*Intra-arterial
*Intra-venous
*Intra-muscular
*Intra-dermal
*Topical
*Transdermal
*Pulmonary
*Aural
*Rectal

Question 2

What is systematic drug delivery? + most common type of dossage form

Answer 2

– Where the drug reaches the site of action through the systemic
(cardiovascular) circulation
– Oral dosage forms are the most common type of systemic dosage
form

Question 3

What is local drug delivery?

Answer 3

– Drug is delivered directly to the site of action via the dosage form
(or the action of the dosage form)
– Topical drug delivery, i.e. to the skin, using creams/ ointments/ gels
is a good example

Question 4

What are the three types of oral dosage forms?

Answer 4

*tablets
*capsules
*powders and granules

Question 5

How do tablets work?

Answer 5

Tablet must disintegrate in the gastro-intestinal
(GI) tract and the drug then enter solution

Question 6

How do capsules work?

Answer 6

Capsule shell quickly dissolves in the stomach and
releases the drug
– Liquids / emulsions / pastes may be incorporated
in 1-piece soft gelatin capsules

Question 7

What are powders and granules typically mixed with?

Answer 7

mixed with water in bulks or single dosages

Question 8

What are the three types of oral dosage forms?

Answer 8

*solutions
*suspensions
*emulsions

Question 9

How does drug dispersion work in solution?

Answer 9

– Drug and other excipients are completely dissolved, i.e. as
a molecular dispersion, in a liquid (solvent)
– Faster acting than an equivalent tablet formulation –
disintegration and dissolution steps are absent

Question 10

How does drug dispersion work in suspensions?

Answer 10

– Drug and/or other excipients remain as solid particles
dispersed in the “vehicle”
– Usually employ a suspending (thickening) agent to keep
the particles dispersed

Question 11

How does drug dispersion work in emulsions?

Answer 11

– Dispersions of (at least) two immiscible or
partially miscible liquids
– Medicinal oils, supplements,
lipophilic drugs

Question 12

What are the 5 types of rectal and vaginal dosage forms?

Answer 12

• suppositories
  *enemas
  *foams
  *pessaries
  *vaginal creams and gels

Question 13

How do suppositories work?

Answer 13

– Drug is incorporated into a water-soluble/
dispersible base or a base which melts at
body temperature
– Once inserted the drug will be released to
exert a local or (sometimes) systemic effect

Question 14

What are enemas?

Answer 14

– Liquid preparations formulated for rectal delivery

Question 15

What are foams?

Answer 15

– Two-phase system administered from a pressurised container
– Drug dissolved in the liquid phase

Question 16

What are the five topical and transdermal dosage forms?

Answer 16

• creams
• ointments
• gels
  *Pastes / sprays / lotions / foams
  *transdermal therapeutic systems (patches)

Question 17

What is a cream?

Answer 17

Semi-solid emulsion preparations usually
applied topically to the skin, but
formulated for other delivery routes

Question 18

What is an ointment?

Answer 18

– Single-phase semi-solid base in which a drug can be dispersed
– Have excellent emollient properties

Question 19

What is a gel?

Answer 19

– Single-phase semi-solid preparations, usually aqueous in nature

Question 20

How are parenteral dosage forms administered?

Answer 20

Drug (or source of calories/ nutrients/ hydration) administered
via a hollow metal needle

Question 21

What are the two types of parenteral dosage forms?

Answer 21

• injections
• infusions

Question 22

What is an injection and common routes?

Answer 22

– Sterile liquid preparation drawn up and injected from
a vial, ampoule or pre-filled syringe
– Typically IV, IM or SC, but many other routes
– Can utilise a syringe driver (or pump)

Question 23

Why do we utilise infusions?

Answer 23

can be used to deliver larger volumes IV and can be in solution or emulsion form

Question 24

What are the 3 types of pulmonary drug delivery systems?

Answer 24

• Inhaler
  *nebuliser
• electronic cigarette

Question 25

How are nebulisers useful?

Answer 25

– Convert liquids to aerosols (dispersion of a liquid or a solid in a gas)
– Useful for delivering larger doses of drug

Question 26

What are typical ocular dosage forms?

Answer 26

Formulations: solutions,
suspensions, gels,
emulsions, injections

Question 27

What should be considered when giving ocular drugs?

Answer 27

Consider: osmolarity,
pH, surface tension

Question 28

What are the typical sublingual/ buccal dosage forms?

Answer 28

Small porous tablets enabling
faster disintegration & drug
release
* Sprays (sublingual)
* Orodispersible/ “melt”
tablets

Question 29

What are the typical nasal dosage forms?

Answer 29

Formulations: solutions,
suspensions, emulsions
(dropper bottles, sprays); gels,
creams, ointments; powders
(pMDIs)

Question 30

What should be considered when delivering nasal drugs?

Answer 30

Consider: irritancy, residence
time
* Systemic and delivery to the
brain are possibilities

Question 31

What are the typical aural dosage forms? what are the exceptions?

Answer 31

Topical drug delivery:
drops, gels, foams.
* Middle/ inner ear: often
require other approaches,
e.g. implants/ injections

Question 32

What are some examples of advanced dosage forms/ technologies?

Answer 32

• Needle-free technology, e.g. jet injection systems and
  microneedles
• Implantable delivery systems
• Nanotechnology
• Cell-based therapies