Pharmacy Care Solurions

Dosage Forms

Capsules
Medication can be compounded into individually customized capsule
form, especially in cases where an alternate strength is required or to
omit potential allergens or irritants. To lessen the number of doses to
be taken, ultiple medications can often be combined into a single
dosage or made into delayed-release capsules.

Lozenges / Troches
Lozenges or troches are a popular dosage form used to keep drugs in
the mouth when local action is needed there. They also can be placed
under the tongue and allowed to dissolve for sublingual delivery, which
allows the medication to enter the bloodstream quickly and easily.

Lozenges and troches can be enhanced with natural sweeteners and
pleasant-tasting flavors, making them ideal for geriatric and pediatric
patients.

Unique Oral Delivery Systems
As many patients often have a difficult time taking medicine, a
number of dosage forms can be custom-prepared for easier ingestion.
Many medications can be taken through a flavored lollipop or a frozen
popsicle.

Others can be taken as chewable "gummy" treats. Infants especially
benefit from alternate delivery devices such as pacifiers or baby
bottles, which are wonderful for dispensing medicine easily and
accurately.

Powder Insufflators
Insufflators are used to apply an extremely fine dry powder to the
nose, throat, ears or other body cavities, or topically for wounds. By
squeezing a bulb, a patient can direct a powdered medication through
a nozzle for direct application.
Dry powder insufflators offer rapid onset of treatment, and can
minimize adverse reactions by releasing small, accurate dosages.
They are often used in the treatment of earaches.

Transdermals
Transdermal methods of delivery also are widely used because they
allow the absorption of medicine directly through the skin. Gels,
emulsion creams, sprays and lip balm stick applicators are easy to use
and are effective in getting medicine into the bloodstream quickly.

Frequently, transdermal medications are prescribed for pain
management, inflammation and nausea/vomiting. In many cases,
transdermals are used to help avoid potential side effects such as
stomach upset or drowsiness.

Suspensions
Many medications are not available in liquid forms for those patients
who have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules. Other patients
may have problems tolerating the taste of a commercially available
liquid. Through compounding, a pharmacist can make a naturally
sweetened, pleasant-tasting oral solution or suspension that can be
administered easily and accurately.

Oral solutions and suspensions are also used in compounding eye
drops, ear drops, sterile injections or nasal sprays.

Suppositories
Patients who cannot take medications orally are prime candidates for
compounded suppositories. Available in various shapes depending on
administration, suppositories can be given rectally, vaginally or
urethrally. By melting or dissolving into the body cavity, they pass
quickly into the bloodstream.
They can be used for delayed-release medications, hormone
replacement therapy, or to treat local conditions such as nausea,
hemorrhoids, infections or inflammation.