Pharmacy Products

Tablets are…

compacted solid dosage forms made by compression, usually for oral use

Tablets can be:

• sugar coated

• enteric coated

• sublingual

• buccal

• chewable

• effervescent

• oral disintegrating or ODT

• vaginal

Sublingual Tablet:

placed under the tongue and dissolved for quick absorption directly into the blood stream through the blood vessels under the tongue

Buccal Tablets:

placed in buccal pouch (area between the gums and the inner lining of the cheek)

• can be used for drugs that might be destroyed by stomach acid

• medication is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the cheeks and other mucosa in the mouth for quick action

Chewable Tablet:

chewed by mouth, then swallowed and absorbed through stomach

• frequently used for children and others who cannot swallow easily

Effervescent Tablet:

placed in liquid, tablet disintegrates and ingredients bubble and release the active drug, then administered like a drink

• used frequently for potassium products which can be very large and difficult to swallow (not for people on sodium restricted diets)

Oral Disintegrating or ODT Tablets:

placed on top of the tongue, disintegrates on contact

• once disintegrated, must be swallowed for absorption through the stomach

• usually do not work faster than regular tablets

• must be protected from moisture until used

Vaginal Tablets:

inserted into the vagina for localized treatment

Capsules:

solid dosage forms in which the drug is enclosed in a “shell” which is generally composed of a form of gelatin. Hard gelatin capsules are two-peice oblong casings that are most commonly swallowed whole

Sprinkle Capsules:

• used for children and adults who cannot swallow easily

• capsules are opened and the contents are sprinkles on a small amount of food and swallowed completely

Inhalation Capsules:

• used for treatment of asthma or chronic obstructive. pulmonary disease (COPD)

• capsule is places in a special device that releases the contents of the capsule into the lungs through inhalation

Gelcaps or Liquid Softgels:

• capsules filled with liquid medication

• two halves are sealed shut and cannot be opened

• swallowed and absorbed by the stomach

  • are not faster acting than tablets

Thin Strips/Films

A film is a small, thin strip that melts in the mouth. Some are placed on top of the tongue, ,dissolved then swallowed and absorbed through the stomach or small intestine. Some are placed under the tongue or buccally where the film dissolves and the medication is absorbed from the mouth directly into the bloodstream.

Lozenges:

Also known as troches or pastilles, are hard, disk-shaped, solid dosage forms that contain medication in a sugar base. Lozenges are used to deliver antiseptic, local anesthetic, antifungal, antibiotic, analgesic, antitussive, astringent, or decongestant drugs to the mouth or throat

Suppositories:

Is inserted rectally, vaginally, or into the urethra where it dissolves or melts. May deliver local or systemic effects

• rectal suppositories are commonly used for hemorrhoids, constipation, and sometimes nausea

• vaginal suppositories are usually larger than rectal suppositories and are commonly used to treat infections

• urethral suppositories are not very common; most frequently used for erectile dysfunction

Common Vehicles of Liquid Medications:

water, alcohol, glycerin, and mineral oil

Solutions:

evenly distributed, homogenous mixture of dissolved medication in a liquid vehicle. Because the drug is already dissolved, solutions rarely require the patient to “shake well before use”

Suspensions:

mixtures of small, solid particles dispersed, but not dissolved, in a liquid vehicle. If left standing, the solid particles of a suspension settle, therefore suspensions should be shaken well before use

Elixir:

Clear sweet flavored mixture, combinations of water and alcohol. Used for drugs that don’t dissolve in water alone

Syrup:

concentrated solutions of sugar in water. May or may not include active ingredients

Spirits:

alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of volatile substances, store in tight, light resistant containers

Tincture:

alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions prepared from vegetable extracts, stored in tight light resistant containers

Fluid Extracts:

extracts of vegetable drugs that contain alcohol as a solvent

Topical:

drug that is applied directly to body surfaces, usually the skin. They can come in many forms including creams, foams, gels, lotions, ointments

Creams:

mixture of equal parts oil and water and can be medicated or non-medicated. They serve to soften the skin and are preferred over ointments because they are easier to spread, have cooling effect on the skin, and are easier to wash with watr

Examples:

• Hydrocortisone

• Triamcinolone

• Retin-A

• Permethrin

Ointments:

One of the most frequently used forms of topical medications. Mixture of oil and water but the percentage of oil is much higher, making ointments thick and greasy. Most are heavy, greasy, highly lubricating, and do not easily wash off with water. The advantage is that they stay on the skin longer, but many people do not like the greasy feel

Examples:

• mupirocin

• flucoinonide

Lotions:

Typically not as thick as creams or ointments. The thinness of a lotion makes it a better option for application to the scalp or other areas with alot of hair (many medicated shampoos are actually lotions). It is also easier to spread thinly over the intended area

Examples:

• Ketoconazole

• Desonide

Foams:

Are not very common forms of topical medications. Foams are usually a liquid stored in an aerosol canister. When the liquid is dispensed from the container, gas from the aerosol is trapped in pockets, forming bubbles. There is no significant advantage to foams when compared to creams and ointments, though foams do provide easier application when applied vaginally or rectally

Examples:

• Proctofoam

• Olux-E

Gels:

Jelly-like consistency. Some gels have an alcohol base and can therefore be drying or can sting when they come in contact with cuts or lesions/ Gels can be used for treatment to the skin, eyes, and nasal passage and has most recently gained popularity for the administration of testosterone

Examples:

• Timolol GFS

• Epiduo

• AndroGel

Transdermal Patches:

medication on the patch is delivered to a specific area or the entire body over and extended period of time

• most CANNOT be safely cut in half-exception is Lidoderm Patches

Paste:

mixture of oil, water, and medicated poweder

Powder:

either the pure drug or the drug mixed with a dry vehicle

Tape:

medication is enclosed under the tape to treat a localized area

1 Fingertip Unit:

0.5g enough to cover both sides of 1 adult hand

2 Fingertip Unit:

1g enough to cover 1 adult foot

3 Fingertip Unit:

1.5g enough to cover 1 adult arm

6 Fingertip Unit:

3g enough to cover 1 adult leg

Inhalants:

deliver medication into the body via the lungs. Inhalants are typically used to treat breathing ailments such as asthma and COPD. Most common are inhalers and nebulizer solution

Inhalers:

come in 3 main types: metered dose inhalers (MDIs), soft mist inhalers (SMIs), and dry powder inhalers (DPIs)

Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs):

consist of a pressurized canister of medication in a portable plastic case with a mouthpieces. Use a propellant to help carry the drug into the lungs. Some prescribers will recommend the use of a spacer for more effective method delivery. A spacer attaches to the inhaler mouthpiece and helps to deliver the medicine to the airways of the lungs instead of the mouth

Examples:

• Ventolin

• ProAir

• Proventil

Soft Mist Inhalers:

use a spring device to aerosolized the drug instead of using a propellant

Examples:

• Combivent Respimat

• Spiriva Respimat

Dry Powder Inhalers:

since the medication is a dry powder, a special inhaler device is needed to deliver the medication. A fast strong inhale is needed to release the medication

Examples:

• Advaid Diskus

• Asmanex Twisthaler

• Pulmicort Flexhaler

• Flovent Diskus

Nebulizer Solution:

required the use of a nebulizer or a “breathing machine”. A nebulizer is an air compressor that uses pressurized room air to create a mist of the medicated solution, which is inhaled for 5-10 minutes. Some people prefer using a nebulizer for episodes of extreme breathing difficulty. Nebulizers are also recommended for young children and adults that have trouble using proper technique with an inhaler

Examples:

• Albuterol

• Budesonide

• Ipratropium

Intravenous IV:

injected into a vein

• most commonly prepared and used in hospital setting

Intramuscular (IM):

injected into the muscle

• have longer duration of action than most IV medications

Subcutaneous (SQ or SubQ):

injected into fatty tissue layer just below the skin

Intradermal (ID):

injected between the upper layers of skin

The larger the number of needle gauges=

the skinnier the needle

The smaller the number of needle gauges=

the larger the needle

Controlled-Release:

medication that is slowly and consistently released over an extended period of time. Oral tablets and capsules are the most common dosage forms that are formulated for extended release. There are other forms such as implants, IM injections, oral suspensions, and topical patch systems

Advantages of Controlled-Release:

• medication is delivered in a slow, controlled, and consistent manner so the patient is absorbing the same amount of medication through the day and night

• reduced risk of side effects

• patient may need to take the medication less frequently, leading to greater compliance

CD:

controlled diffusion

CRT:

controlled release tablet

ER:

extended release

LA:

long acting

SA:

sustained action

SR:

sustained release; slow release

TD:

time delay

TR:

time release

XL:

extra long

XR:

extended release