Basics of Dosage Form
Basics of Dosage Form
1. Formulation Design
Excipients:
Binders:
Fillers:
Disintegrants:
● Facilitate the breakdown of the dosage form after administration (e.g., sodium starch
glycolate).
Lubricants:
Preservatives:
Stabilizers:
Granulation:
Coating:
● Application of a thin layer on tablets for protection or to control release (e.g., enteric
coating).
Lyophilization (Freeze-Drying):
a. Pharmacokinetics
● The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a drug
(ADME):
Absorption:
● The process by which the drug enters systemic circulation. Factors affecting absorption
include:
Distribution :
● The dispersion of the drug throughout the body's fluids and tissues. It is influenced by:
Metabolism:
● The chemical alteration of the drug, primarily in the liver, involving:
○ Phase I reactions (oxidation, reduction).
○ Phase II reactions (conjugation).
Excretion:
● The elimination of the drug from the body, primarily via the kidneys. Factors affecting
excretion include:
● Renal function.
● pH of urine (can influence drug solubility).
b. Pharmacodynamics
Mechanism of Action:
● How the drug produces its effects (e.g., receptor binding, enzyme inhibition).
Dose-Response Relationship:
● The correlation between the dose of a drug and its pharmacological effect. Key concepts
include:
Potency:
Efficacy:
Therapeutic Window:
● The range between the minimum effective concentration and the minimum toxic
concentration.
3. Regulatory Considerations
a. Drug Approval Process
● Investigational New Drug (IND) Application: Required before beginning clinical trials.
● New Drug Application (NDA): Submitted for FDA approval after successful clinical trials.
Regulations ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according
to quality standards. Key principles include:
● Quality management.
● Personnel training and hygiene.
● Proper facility design and maintenance.
● Documentation and record-keeping.
c. Stability Testing :
Critical for ensuring that dosage forms maintain their quality over time. Studies include:
a. Modified-Release Forms
● Involves strategies to deliver drugs specifically to the intended site of action, enhancing
efficacy and minimizing side effects:
● Monoclonal Antibodies: Target specific antigens in diseases like cancer.
Deliver drugs through the skin to achieve systemic effects. Advantages include:
5. Patient-Centric Considerations
a. Patient Compliance
● Ease of use.
● Taste masking for pediatric patients.
● Dosing frequency.
b. Special Populations
a. Compounding
Pharmacists may create custom formulations for patients who require specific dosages
or dosage forms that are not commercially available. This includes:
Pharmacists play a crucial role in educating patients about dosage forms, ensuring
proper administration, and addressing potential side effects.
Conclusion