Liquid medication dosage forms
Liquid medication dosage forms deliver medication in a fluid. The fluid serves as a carrier, or delivery system, for the medication and is referred to as the
Vehicle
Ex. water, alcohol, glycerin, mineral oil
Ingredients that have no medicinal activity but necessary for the manufacturing prcess
Inactive or inert ingredients
Ex. binders, diluents, lubricants, colorants
Nasogastric tubes (NGTs) are inserted through the nose (“naso-”) and end in the stomach (“-gastric”). Orogastric tubes enter the body through the mouth (“oro-“) and also end in the stomach. Gastrostomy tubes (GTs) are inserted into the stomach (“gastro-”) through an opening (“-ostomy”) in the abdominal wall. These tubes are all examples of the _____ route
Enteral
A mixture of two liquids that normally do not mix, in which one liquid is broken into small droplets (the internal phase) and evenly scattered throughout the other (the external or continuous phase).
Emulsion
ex. Calamine lotion is a water in oil emulsion - water droplets (internal) spread throughout oil (external)
Drugs that are administered through the mouth and swallowed are given by the ____ route
Oral
Liquid medication dosage forms are usually _____- acting than solid medication dosage forms due to already being dissolved or small particles that end up dissolving in the fluids of the digestive tract
______-______oral tablets have a coating that protects the lining of the stomach from irritation by the drug. The actions of these tablets are delayed since they must first pass through the stomach and into the intestine before the coating dissolves and the medication absorbs and takes effect.
Enteric-coated
A ____ dose is injected into the body over a short period of time to produce an almost immediate effect in the body
Bolus
*note thtat too fast of an infusion can cause undesirable side effects*
Name the dosage form. Examples include lotions, magmas, milks, gels, and mucilages
Suspensions
A ____ route of medication administration is one that bypasses the digestive tract
Parenteral
Solutions should appear ____ with no visible particles present. If particles or cloudiness are seen, the solution should not be used.
Solutions are divided into aqueous, nonaqueous, and miscellanos
clear
True or False: Enteric coated tablets can be crushed, chewed, or cut
Nitroglycerin tablets, Fentanyl tablets, and Acyclovir tablets are all common medications that are given by these two routes
Sublingual and buccal
True
Gargles- treats conditions of the throat by killing germs (ex. betadine)
Oral rinses- treat conditions inside the mouth (ex. chlorhexidine and fluoride)
Mouthwashes- freshen the mouth (ex. cepacol and listerine)
Which of the following dosage forms must be shaken before use?
Magmas, Gels, Emulsions, Lotions, or All of the above
All of the above
Magma- thick, jelly like suspensions of undissolved drugs in water (ex. Milk of magnesia)
Mucilages- thick, gummy liquids made up of water and sticky, pulpy parts of vegetables (ex. Metamucil)
Prevents nondissolving solid particles from settling to the bottom of liquid
Name 3 disadvantages of liquid medications
Shorter expiration
Unpleasant taste and may require sweetners/added flavors
Easy to spill
Require careful measuring
Special storage requirements such as refrigeration or shaking
These tablets contain ingredients that bubble and release the active drug when placed in a liquid. Their advantage is that they break down and dissolve before administration and the drug can be absorbed quickly after it is taken. An example is Alka-Seltzer tablets
A limitation of both the ___________ and ____routes is the relatively small volume of drug that can be comfortably injected under the skin or into the muscle. It may be undesirable to use the ___________ route in patients with little body fat or the ____ route in patients with obesity, decreased muscle mass, or bleeding problems
subcutaneous, IM
__________ solutions are those that use solvents, or dissolving liquids, other than water. Commonly used solvents include alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol), glycerin, mineral oil, and propylene glycol.
Nonaqueous
All of the following statements are advantages of the oral route of administration compared to the intravenous route except ...
a. There is less chance of contamination by bacteria in the bloodstream
b. The effects of an orally administered drug may be more easily reversed if too high a dose is given
c. They are generally less expensive and are more convenient to administer
d. A drug given orally is available to act immediately in the body when used to treat serious conditions such as a heart attack or a severe allergic reaction
d. A drug given orally is available to act immediately in the body when used to treat serious conditions such as a heart attack or a severe allergic reaction
Name 3 advantages of liquid medications
Dosage flexibility (usually in bulk containers)
Difficulty swallowing
Medications that need to be administed into the eye or ears
Faster acting
Capsules are solid medication dosage forms where a drug, with or without inert ingredients, is packaged into a gelatin shell. The largest capsule size is ____ and the smallest capsule size is ____
Largest 000
Smallest 5
Inverse relationship! Smaller the number = bigger the capsule size
Match the route of adminstration (intra-articular, intravitreal, intrathecal, and intravesicular) with the defintion:
1. Drugs are injected into the space around the spinal cord
2. Injecting a drug into a joint, such as a knee or elbow, to treat diseases in the joint.
3. Administered by direct injection into the vitreous fluid in the back part of the eyeball.
4. Delivers drugs directly into the urinary bladder
1. Intrathecal
2. Intra-articular (ex. steroids)
3. Intravitreal
4. Intravesicular
____-___-____emulsions may be better in some cases because they are washed off with water and do not stain. They feel lighter and nongreasy and have an advantage when the emulsion is to be applied to a hairy part of the body, such as the scalp.
Oil-in-water
Water-in-oil spreads more evenly, soften the skin, and hold moisture. They are not easily washed off with water and may feel heavy or greasy
For which patient would an oleaginous ointment be preferred over a cream?
a. A patient who has a rash that is itchy and feels “hot” on his arms
b. A patient with very dry skin on his heels; the skin often cracks and bleeds, which makes it painful for the patient to walk
c. A teenager who has severe facial acne who was prescribed a topical anti-acne medication
d. A patient who has a “weepy” rash with watery discharge.
b - oleaginous ointment does not allow moisture to escape from the skin (occlusive) and does not dry it out
ex. vaseline