Solution A Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is a pharmaceutical solution?
A liquid preparation containing one or more soluble chemical substances, usually dissolved in water.
Name two types of pharmaceutical solutions and their key ingredient.
Syrup (sucrose), Elixir (alcohol).
Why are oral solutions useful for children and the elderly?
They are easier to swallow and allow for adjustable dosing.
What is one major limitation of oral solutions?
They are generally less stable than solid dosage forms.
What is organolepsis?
The sensory characteristics of a product, such as taste, color, smell, and texture.
Why is solubility important in oral liquids?
Drugs must remain solubilized for effectiveness and stability.
What does dielectric constant indicate?
The polarity of a solvent; high values dissolve ionic compounds, low values dissolve nonpolar compounds.
What are cosolvents? Give an example.
Water-miscible solvents that increase solubility; e.g., ethanol, glycerol.
What is micellisation?
Formation of micelles by surfactants to solubilize poorly soluble drugs.
Define CMC (critical micelle concentration).
The concentration at which surfactants form micelles in solution.
What is a prodrug?
A compound chemically modified to increase solubility and converted into an active drug in the body.
What are the two main types of stability in oral liquids?
Chemical stability and physical stability.
List two chemical degradation processes.
Hydrolysis and oxidation.
Give an example of a sweetening agent and its use.
Sucrose: provides sweetness and microbial resistance at high concentrations.
Which synthetic sweetener is 500 times sweeter than sucrose?
Saccharin.
How does microencapsulation help with taste masking?
It coats drug particles to prevent contact with taste receptors.
Name a common acidic preservative used in oral liquids.
Benzoic acid.
What is the function of buffers in solutions?
To maintain and stabilize the pH of the formulation.
Name a buffer and its typical pH range.
Citric acid buffer: pH 2.5–6.
What is the function of antioxidants in solutions?
Prevent oxidative degradation of drugs.
What is the role of viscosity-controlling agents?
Improve pourability and palatability.
What is the process of ‘polishing’ in manufacture?
Filtering the solution to remove particles for clarity.
What is the importance of passivation in stainless steel equipment?
Removes surface alkalinity to prevent reaction with acidic formulations.
How is a solution compounded extemporaneously?
Dissolve solutes, add excipients, transfer to container, make to volume, label.
