Pharmaceutical Formulations & Drug Delivery

Types of Formulations

Formulations are classified into two types: based on Route of administration and Physical form. Based on route of administration they are classified as Oral, Topical, Rectal, Parenteral, Vaginal, Inhaled, and Ophthalmic and optic. Formulation studies involve developing a preparation of the drug which is both stable and acceptable to the patient. For orally administered drugs, this usually involves incorporating the drug into a tablet or a capsule. It is important to make the distinction that a tablet contains a variety of other potentially inert substances apart from the drug itself, and studies have to be carried out to ensure that the encapsulated drug is compatible with these other substances in a way that does not cause harm, whether direct or indirect.