Classification of Dosage Forms
Start with the big picture
Dosage forms can be classified by physical state, route of administration, and release pattern. Physical forms include solids, semi-solids, liquids, and gaseous preparations; routes include oral, parenteral, topical, transdermal, pulmonary, and other sites. Release patterns may be immediate, delayed, extended, pulsatile, or targeted. Common examples include tablets and capsules for oral use, creams and ointments for topical use, and injections for parenteral delivery. Other systems address particular delivery needs: inhalers support pulmonary administration, patches deliver drugs through the skin, and controlled-release products adjust where or how quickly a drug is released. These categories provide a framework for understanding the range of dosage forms and their clinical applications.
What you'll learn
- Classify dosage forms by physical state, route, and release pattern.
- Identify representative examples of solid, semi-solid, liquid, and gaseous dosage forms.
- Describe how selected dosage forms relate to their routes of administration.
- Recognize delivery systems designed to modify drug release or target delivery.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
