Classification Of Pharmaceutical Solution

Solutions are homogeneous liquid dispersion of a solute (solid, liquid or gas) dissolved in a suitable vehicle (water, alcohol or any other solvent mixture). Pharmaceutical solutions are solutions with medication as part of the solute. The components making up a solution are termed the solute and the solvent depending on their relative proportions (component in lower proportion is termed solute).

Pharmaceutical solution

Solutions intended for oral administration usually contain sweeteners, flavors, and colors to make the medication more attractive and palatable to the patient. They may contain stabilizers to maintain the physicochemical stability of the drug and preservatives to prevent the growth of microorganisms in the solution.

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Classification Of Solution

Solution can be classified into:

1. Isotonic solutions: have similar tonicity as biological fluids.

2. Saturated solutions: are solutions which, at a given temperature and pressure, contain the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in the solvent.

3. Buffer solutions contain a combination of weak acid and its salt with a strong base or a weak base and its salt with a strong acid

Classification Of Pharmaceutical Solution

According To Route Of Administration

A. Oral solution

B. Otic solution

C. Ophthalmic solution

D. Topical solution

E. Parenteral preparations

According To The Solvent System Used

A. Spirit: Hydroalcoholic solutions of aromatic materials are termed spirits

B. Syrups: Syrup is a saturated sugar solution

C. Tinctures: Tinctures are alcoholic (15-80%) or hydroalcoholic solutions of chemical or soluble constituents of vegetable drugs

D. Aromatic waters: Aromatic waters are saturated solutions (unless otherwise specified) of volatile oils (e.g. rose oil, peppermint oil) or other aromatic or volatile substances, e.g. camphor in purified water. Naturally, they possess an odor and taste similar to that plant or volatile substance from which they are prepared

E. Elixirs: are sweetened hydroalcoholic (combinations of water and ethanol) solutions and are usually less sweet

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F. Oil-based solutions: Although most solution dosage forms are aqueous based, certain solutions are oil based. For example, progesterone injection is a solution of the hormone in a suitable vegetable oil for intramuscular use

G. Dry or lyophilized mixtures for solution: these drugs are formulated as dry powders or granule dosage forms for reconstitution with purified water immediately before dispensing to the patient. The dry powder mixture contains all of the formulation components including drug, flavorant, colorant, buffers, and others, except for the solvent

H. Linctuses: These are viscous syrups meant for smoothening the throat and are used as anti-cough preparations