Forms of drugs because there are many different routes of drug administration: oral (by mouth) is the most used (80% of drugs) , assault parenterally (by injection - injection) , rectally , vaginally , transdermal , inhalation , ophthalmic and followed.
The active ingredient , that is to say the active molecule (paracetamol , insulin ...) that can be administered alone , it is added with excipients (lactose , cellulose , water , oil ...) which have no therapeutic activity but allow the formatting according to its particular route of administration.
What is the dosage? Galenic pharmacy pharmaceutical is a discipline that can turn an active molecule into a drug administered to the patient.
The term comes from pharmaceutical Galen , physician to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the second century of our era. He left a large number of manuscripts containing formulations remedies he prescribed. At the end of their studies , doctors swear the Hippocratic oath and the oath of pharmacists Galen.
What is the importance of a pharmaceutical drug? The goal of the pharmaceutical is to ensure the stability of the active ingredient , facilitate administration , optimizing its therapeutic efficacy , improve retention , reduce toxicity , facilitate proper monitoring of treatment (compliance).
Oral dosage forms (oral or = by mouth , in Latin) dominate the pharmaceutical market: the head , tablets and capsules , but capsules , granules , syrups , powders , drops ...
The tablets , pills , and potions are gone. Name (wrong) the "pill" actually applies to a tablet.
Parenteral forms (para "enteron" - the Greek this time - means not passing through the digestive tract) are essential when the active ingredient is destroyed by the digestive tract. These are injectable preparations , preparations for infusions , vaccines and recently implants , eg contraceptive implants.
Forms inhaled (breathed) are nebulizers , metered increasingly sophisticated fumigations have replaced the old ...
Forms are vaginal suppositories , capsules and rings recently contraceptives.
Forms are rectal suppositories , capsules and enemas.
Forms ophthalmic eye drops , ointments , gels ...
The transcutaneous route includes ointments , gels , emulsions , creams , and increasingly used the patch called "patch" in English stamp: e.g. nicotine patch used in smoking cessation .
The dosage is it not a marketing effect? No. The progress made is significant dosage on the treatment plan. Thanks to them:
1) it controls the release of active principle with the sustained-release forms (LP) , which means for example the patient one pill per day instead of three;
2) the regularity of treatment and therapeutic response have been improved , for example with patches and implants;
3) the patient's comfort is taken into account: for example orodispersible tablets for people with swallowing problems , insulin pens almost painless patches computerized painkillers to manage the pain itself;
4) soon active molecules will be conveyed in the form of liposomes or nanospheres directly and almost exclusively into diseased cells.
