Dosage forms (also called unit doses) are
pharmaceutical drug products in the form in which they are marketed for use, with a specific mixture of
active ingredients and inactive components (
excipients), in a particular configuration (such as a
capsule shell, for example), and apportioned into a particular
dose
Dose or Dosage may refer to:
Music
* ''Dose'' (Gov't Mule album), 1998
* ''Dose'' (Latin Playboys album)
* ''Dosage'' (album), by the band Collective Soul
* "Dose" (song), a 2018 song by Ciara
* "Dose", song by Filter from the album '' Short ...
. For example, two products may both be
amoxicillin, but one is in 500 mg capsules and another is in 250 mg chewable tablets. The term unit dose can also sometimes encompass non-reusable ''packaging'' as well (especially when each drug product is individually packaged), although the FDA distinguishes that by ''unit-dose "packaging" or "dispensing"''. Depending on the context, ''multi(ple) unit dose'' can refer to distinct drug products ''packaged'' together, or to a ''single'' drug product containing multiple drugs and/or doses. The term dosage form can also sometimes refer ''only'' to the
pharmaceutical formulation of a drug product's constituent drug substance(s) and any blends involved, without considering matters beyond that (like how it is ultimately configured as a consumable product such as a capsule, patch, etc.). Because of the somewhat vague boundaries and unclear overlap of these terms and certain variants and qualifiers within the pharmaceutical industry, caution is often advisable when conversing with someone who may be unfamiliar with another person's use of the term.
Depending on the method/route of administration, dosage forms come in several types. These include many kinds of liquid, solid, and semisolid dosage forms. Common dosage forms include
pill,
tablet
Tablet may refer to:
Medicine
* Tablet (pharmacy), a mixture of pharmacological substances pressed into a small cake or bar, colloquially called a "pill"
Computing
* Tablet computer, a mobile computer that is primarily operated by touching the s ...
, or capsule,
drink
A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies a ...
or
syrup, among many others.
When one drug product (for example, one tablet, one capsule, one syrup) contains more than one drug (more than one
active ingredient), that product is a
combination drug (fixed-dose combination; FDC).
In
naturopathy, dosages can take the form of
decoctions
Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material (which may include stems, roots, bark and rhizomes) to dissolve the chemicals of the material. It is the most common preparation method in various herbal-medicine systems. Dec ...
and
herbal teas, as well as the more conventional methods previously mentioned.
The
route of administration
A route of administration in pharmacology and toxicology is the way by which a medication, drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body.
Routes of administration are generally classified by the location at which the substance i ...
(ROA) for
drug delivery is dependent on the dosage form of the
substance
Substance may refer to:
* Matter, anything that has mass and takes up space
Chemistry
* Chemical substance, a material with a definite chemical composition
* Drug substance
** Substance abuse, drug-related healthcare and social policy diagnosis ...
in question. Various dosage forms may exist for a single particular drug, since some
medical conditions such as being unconscious can restrict ROA. For example, persistent
nausea, especially with
vomiting, may make it difficult to use an
oral dosage form, and in such a case, it may be necessary to use an alternative route such as
inhalational,
buccal,
sublingual
Sublingual (abbreviated SL), from the Latin for "under the tongue", refers to the pharmacological route of administration by which substances diffuse into the blood through tissues under the tongue.
The sublingual glands receive their prima ...
,
nasal
Nasal is an adjective referring to the nose, part of human or animal anatomy. It may also be shorthand for the following uses in combination:
* With reference to the human nose:
** Nasal administration, a method of pharmaceutical drug delivery
** ...
,
suppository or
parenteral instead. Additionally, a specific dosage form may be a requirement for certain kinds of drugs, as there may be issues with various factors like
chemical stability or
pharmacokinetic
Pharmacokinetics (from Ancient Greek ''pharmakon'' "drug" and ''kinetikos'' "moving, putting in motion"; see chemical kinetics), sometimes abbreviated as PK, is a branch of pharmacology dedicated to determining the fate of substances administered ...
s. As an example,
insulin
Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the ''INS'' gene. It is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabolism o ...
cannot be given orally because upon being administered in this manner, it is extensively
metabolized in the
gastrointestinal tract
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organ (biology), organs of the digestive syste ...
(GIT) before reaching the
blood stream, and is thereby incapable of sufficiently reaching its therapeutic target destinations. The oral and intravenous doses of a drug such as
paracetamol
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is a medication used to treat fever and mild to moderate pain. Common brand names include Tylenol and Panadol.
At a standard dose, paracetamol only slightly decreases body temperature; it is inferior ...
will differ for the same reason.
Oral
*
Pills, i.e. tablets or capsules
* Liquids such as syrups, solutions,
elixers,
emulsions
An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible (unmixable or unblendable) owing to liquid-liquid phase separation. Emulsions are part of a more general class of two-phase systems of matter called colloids. Althoug ...
, and
tinctures
* Liquids such as decoctions and herbal teas
*
Orally disintegrating tablets
*
Lozenges or candy (
electuaries)
*
Thin films (e.g.,
Listerine Pocketpaks,
nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin (NG), (alternative spelling of nitroglycerine) also known as trinitroglycerin (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by nitrating g ...
) to be placed on top of or underneath the tongue as well as against the cheek
*
Powders or
effervescent powder or tablets, often instructed to be mixed into a food item
* Plants or seeds prepared in various ways such as a
cannabis edible
* Pastes such as high fluoride
toothpastes
Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that aids in removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, a ...
* Gases such as
oxygen (can also be delivered through the nose)
Ophthalmic
*
Eye drops
*
Lotions
* Ointments
* Emulsions
Inhalation
*
Aerosolized medication
*
Dry-powder Inhalers or
metered dose inhalers
*
Nebulizer-administered medication
*
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance is burned and the resulting smoke is typically breathed in to be tasted and absorbed into the bloodstream. Most commonly, the substance used is the dried leaves of the tobacco plant, which have bee ...
*
Vaporizer-administered medication
Unintended ingredients
Talc is an
excipient often used in pharmaceutical tablets that may end up being crushed to a powder against medical advice or for recreational use. Also,
illicit drugs that occur as white powder in their pure form are often
cut with cheap
talc. Natural talc is cheap but contains
asbestos
Asbestos () is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere b ...
while asbestos-free talc is more expensive. Inhaled talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause lung cancer if it is inhaled. The evidence about asbestos-free talc is less clear, according to the
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than ...
.
Injection
Parenteral
*
Intradermally-administered (ID)
*
Subcutaneously-administered (SC)
*
Intramuscularly-administered (IM)
*
Intraosseous
Intraosseous infusion (IO) is the process of injecting medications, fluids, or blood products directly into the marrow of a bone; this provides a non-collapsible entry point into the systemic venous system. The intraosseous infusion technique i ...
administration (IO)
*
Intraperitoneally
Intraperitoneal injection or IP injection is the injection of a substance into the peritoneum (body cavity). It is more often applied to animals than to humans. In general, it is preferred when large amounts of blood replacement fluids are needed ...
-administered (IP)
*
intravenously-administered (IV)
*
Intracavernously-administered (ICI)
These are usually solutions and suspensions.
Unintended ingredients
Safe
Eye drops (normal saline in disposable packages) are distributed to syringe users by
needle exchange programs.
Unsafe
The injection of talc from crushed pills has been associated with
pulmonary talcosis in intravenous drug users.
Topical
*
Creams
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...
,
liniments
Liniment (from la, linere, meaning "to anoint"), also called embrocation and heat rub, is a medicated topical preparation for application to the skin. Some liniments have viscosity similar to that of water; others are lotion or balm; still other ...
, balms (such as lip balm or antiperspirants and deodorants), lotions, or ointments, etc.
*
Gels and
hydrogels
*
Ear drops
*
Transdermal and
dermal patches
A dermal patch or skin patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver a medication into the skin. This is in contrast to a transdermal patch, which delivers the medication through the skin and into the bloodstream.
...
to be applied to the skin
* Powders
Unintended use
* It is not safe to calculate divided doses by cutting and weighing medical skin patches, because there's no guarantee that the substance is evenly distributed on the patch surface.
For example,
fentanyl transdermal patches are designed to slowly release the substance over 3 days. It is well known that cut fentanyl transdermal consumed orally have cause overdoses and deaths.
* Single
blotting papers for illicit drugs injected from solvents in syringes may also cause uneven distribution across the surface.
Other
*
Intravaginal administration
**
Vaginal rings
** Capsules and tablets
** Suppositories
*
Rectal administration (enteral)
** Suppositories
** Suspensions and solutions in the form of
enemas
** Gels
* Urethral
*
Nasal sprays
Nasal is an adjective referring to the nose, part of human or animal anatomy. It may also be shorthand for the following uses in combination:
* With reference to the human nose:
** Nasal administration, a method of pharmaceutical drug delivery
** ...
See also
*
Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic Referrals
*
Drug delivery
*
Route of administration
A route of administration in pharmacology and toxicology is the way by which a medication, drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body.
Routes of administration are generally classified by the location at which the substance i ...
*
Pharmaceutical packaging
References
External links
*
Dosage From Development
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dosage Form
Pharmacokinetics