MOST CONVENIENT DOSAGE FORM

PHARMACEUTICALSYRUP

concentrated aqueous preparations of 85% of sugar or sugar substitute with or without flavoring agents and medicinal substances.

In medical terminology, medicinal syrups are nearly saturated solutions of 85% of sugar in water in which medicinal substances or drugs are dissolved.

Due to the inability of some children and elderly people to swallow solid dosage forms, it is fairly common today for a pharmacist to be asked to prepare an oral liquid dosage form of a medication available in the pharmacy.

WHAT IS SYRUP

Aromatic or adjuvant syrups

They are mostly used to improve the taste of salty, bitter, or otherwise unpleasant mixtures.

Medicinal syrups

They are of two types:

Made from extractive drugs: Here, the fluid extract of the respective medicines is mixed with the syrup.

Made from chemicals: This can be either by simple solution or by chemical reaction and solution. Here the

taste of the medicinal agents is greatly modified.

TYPES OF SYRUP

› Appropriate for any patient, whatever the age is

› The most natural and easiest route of administration

› Economical and safe to the patient

› No nursing is required, which means the patient can take it with no help

› The liquid dosage form is expected for certain types of products like cough medicines

ADVANTAGES OF SYRUP

› Delayed onset of action because absorption takes time

› Not suitable in emergency and for unconscious patients

› Not convenient for a patient with a gastrointestinal disorder such as diarrhea, constipation, ulceration, and hyperacidity in stomach

› Can’t avoid first pass metabolism

DISADVANTAGES OF SYRUP

Most syrups contain the following components in addition to the purified water and any medicinal agents present:

(a)Sweetening Agent- the sugar, usually sucrose, or sugar substitute used to provide sweetness and viscosity

(b) Antimicrobial Preservatives

(c) Viscosity Modifier

(d) Flavorants

(e) Colorants

many types of syrups, especially those prepared commercially, contain special solvents, solubilizing agents, thickeners, or stabilizers.

COMPONENTS OF SYRUP

Pharmaceutical syrups are produced by mixing purified water, sweeteners, active ingredients (API), aromas, flavours and other ingredients (thickeners) etc.

PREPARATION OF SYRUP

There are four methods. Based on the physical and chemical properties on the ingredients, the choice of the method is selected-

I. Solution with heat

II. Agitation without heat

III.Addition of sucrose to liquid medicament

IV.Percolation method

1. Solution with heat-temperature of purified water is increased to 80 to 85 C

taken off from the heat source

Then add sucrose and shake it thoroughly

Those substances that are heat sensitive and volatile agents are added after the solution attain the room temperature

during heating, the sucrose gets hydrolysed, results in the formation of dextrose and fructose

these two sugars together called as invert sugar and the process is known as inversion

The inversion leads to darkening of the solution

2.Agitation without heat- vessel is taken generally made up of stainless steel or glass

The vessel should be larger than the desired volume of syrup required

Then the ingredients according to the formulation are added to water and mixed

It is better to dissolve solid ingredients in the water first and then to add them to syrup

This results in easy mixing as sugar solution generally retards mixing

3. Addition of sucrose to liquid medicament- This method is generally used for fluid extracts.

But those substances which are soluble in alcohol will precipitate out as soon as the addition of water

An alternation is to first dissolve all the ingredients in water

Now after sometime all the precipitates formed are filtered out

Now add sucrose

But this method is of no use if the precipitates formed has active ingredients

4. Percolation method-

the principle of percolation is used

A sucrose bed is prepared and then water or vehicle containing therapeutic agent is passed

Here the sucrose bed should be coarse and shape of percolator must be cylindrical or cone shapped

Formulation

The manufacturing process must achieve the following factors:

• Dissolving of the sugars to form a syrup

• Hydration of powdered ingredients

• Blending ingredients of widely different viscosity

• Suspension or dissolving of active ingredients

• The end product must be smooth, agglomerate-free and homogeneous.

• Equipment should conform to GMP standards

FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION

Using conventional mixers and agitators for this process leads

to several potential problems:

• Conventional agitators cannot dissolve high concentrations of sugars at ambient temperature.

• Heating of the mixture will be required to aid solution. This is

energy inefficient.

• The cooling process after this further adds to costs and

process time.

• Crystallization of the syrup can occur during heating/cooling.

• Active ingredients can be damaged by heat.

• Thickening ingredients will form agglomerates which

conventional equipment cannot disperse

These problems can be overcome by using a Silverson High Shear mixer.

• A Silverson high shear mixer can produce 66% sucrose syrup at ambient temperature.

• The heat of dissolution is imparted in the form of shear

• Consistent product quality and repeatability is obtained.

• An agglomerate free mixture is produced

Syrup, as a pharmaceutical product requires safe, secure and tamper-proof handling while packaging. Packaging of syrups needs to ensure complete protection from contamination and microbial growth. Our inevitable packaging support assures the safe and secure packaging of syrups so as to ensure their extended shelf life.

The general process:

› Filling

› Sealing

› Capping

› Coding & labeling

› Wrapping

Packaging of Syrup

Process Involved in Syrup Packaging –

Empty Bottles are rinsed though Air-jet cleaning

› After complete cleaning, bottles are tested & transferred ahead for filling

› Filling machines with their automatic piston fills the bottles with accurate volume of syrup

› Capping is done on bottle through capping machines

› Plastic or aluminum capsules are bound over the neck of the bottle for secure sealing

› Important details regarding packaging date & expiry date are printed on bottles

Flow chart for Oral liquid packaging

Bottle washing Filling Cap sealing Inspection Turn table

Outer labeling Inkjet print Checking Cap printing Labeling

Checking & Stacking

With our advancements in the Packaging Machines, the pharmaceutical industry is gaining immense benefits in terms of:

› Safe & secure process handling

› Excellent packaging while preserving the quality of syrup

› Tight sealing protecting syrup from contaminants

› Reduced over-head

StorageAll the products dispense extemporaneously require some form of additional storage instructions to be detailed on the label. This information can be the addition of just a product expiry date through to a number of important additional label

Labeling

Every pharmaceutical preparation requires a label to be produced before the product can be dispensed or sold to patient. The accuracy of the label is of paramount importance as it conveys essential information to the patient on the use of preparation.

Brand Name Company Active Ingredient Therapeutic Class Use Dose and DosagesAmbrox Square Pharmaceutical Ltd. Ambroxol Hydrochloride Cough & Cold Remedies Productive cough, Acute and chronic inflammatory disorders

of upper and lower respiratory tracts associated with viscid mucus including acute and chronic bronchitis

2 -5 years old - 2.5 ml, 2-3 times a day, 5 - 10 years old - 5 ml, 2-3 times

a day, 10 years old and adults - 10 ml, 3 times a day.

Brofex Square Pharmaceutical Ltd. Dextromethorphan Cough & Cold Remedies Chronic dry cough/unproductive cough & acute dry cough which is interfering with normal function or sleep.

Adults and Children over 12: 15 to 30 mg 3-4.Childrenbetween 6-12: 5-

15 mg up to 4 times per day. Children between 2 to 6: 2.5-5 mg

up to 4 times per day.

Tusca Square Pharmaceutical Ltd. Guaiphenesin+

Pseudoephedrine +

Triprolidine HCl

Cough & Cold Remedies Symptomatic relief of upper respiratory tract disorders accompanied by productive cough.

Adults: 2 teaspoonful Children: Over 12 years: 2 teaspoonful 3. 6-12

years: 1 teaspoonful. 2-6 years: 1/2 teaspoonful 3 times a day.

DuolaxTM Square Pharmaceutical Ltd. Magnesium Hydroxide & Liquid Paraffin

Laxative Constipation, Hyperacidity with constipation, Anorectal disorder.

Adults and over12 5-30 ml daily, Children over 7 7.5 ml - 15 ml daily,

Children over 3-7 5-10 ml Unilin®

Opsonin Pharma Ltd. Theophylline sodium glycinate Antiasthmatics Theophylline is used in reversible airflow obstruction associated with chronic asthma.

Adult- 1/2 -1, 6-12 years- 1-11/2 teaspoonful, >12 years- 2-4 every 6 hours after meal.

Purilin® Opsonin Pharma Ltd. Levosalbutamol Sulphate Antiasthmatics Levosalbutamol is indicated for the treatment and prevention

of bronchospasm in adults, adolescents.Children aged 6-11 years:

5 ml

Adults and Above 12 yrs 10 ml three times daily.

XINC Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. Zinc sulfate monohydrate Vitamins & Minerals Oral zinc therapy is indicated in zinc deficiency and/or zinc loosing conditions.

Child under 10 kg: 22.5 mgChild between 10-30 kg:22.5 mg 1-3

times.Adults and child over 30 kg: 45 mg

1-3 times daily.

SOLVITONE Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd Vitamin B-complex Vitamins & Minerals Prevention and treatment of vitamin B-complex deficiency states. It may be used in pregnancy, Lactation and in other

conditions where B-vitamin supplementation is useful.

Adults & Children: 1-2 teaspoonfuls thrice daily.

Infants: 1 teaspoonful daily or as recommended by the physician.

Kofen Opsonin Pharma Ltd. Ketotifen Fumarate Antiasthmatics It is effective in prophylaxis of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

Adult: 1-2 mg two times daily with food. Child: Over 2 years of age, 1

mg two times daily with food. Pulmolin Opsonin Pharma Ltd. Salbutamol Sulphate Antiasthmatics Acute and chronic bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis,

bronchospasm, reversible airways obstruction.Adults: 5 ml 3-4 times daily; maximum single dose 8 ml.

Children: 2-6, 1-2 ml 3-4 times daily.

Some SYRUPS PRESENT IN MARKET