Purpose and Types of Drug Dosage Forms Drugs are prepared in specific dosage forms to ensure proper administration, such as coating a drug for intestinal dissolution. The four main types of dosage forms include solid, liquid, semisolid, and inhalation. This discussion focuses on the solid form which encompasses powders (oral or topical), tablets (coated/uncoated with various release mechanisms), pills made from sticky masses like honey or syrup rolled into shape, capsules containing powder or liquid within gelatin shells (hard/soft/spansules), lozenges retained in the mouth for throat action mixed with sweeteners/flavors/gum; and suppositories designed to melt at body temperature inserted rectally/vaginally/urethrally.
Detailed Exploration of Solid Dosage Forms Powders can be oral like ORS sachets or topical dusting powders used against fungal infections. Tablets vary by type: uncoated ones split easily while coated versions dissolve differently based on their design—dispersible dissolves in water; sublingual acts under tongue during emergencies; enteric-coated resists stomach acid but dissolves intestines instead sustained-release controls timing effectively via semi-permeable membranes Pills differ slightly being formed using syrups/honey e.g., contraceptive Mala N Capsules range hard-gelatin powdered contents soft-liquid-filled spansule-granulated delayed-action Lozenges retain medication orally aiding throats Suppository bullet-shaped melts upon insertion treating localized conditions vaginal urethral variants exist too