Elixirs in pharmacy are clear, sweetened, hydroalcoholic liquids dosage forms intended for oral use. Elixirs are mostly prepared using alcohol and water. Here the proportion of alcohol used varies from 5 to 40%. In elixirs water soluble ingredients are dissolved in water and alcohol soluble ingredients are dissolved in alcohol and finally they are mixed together to form a clear solution. Other solvents like glycerin, sorbitol and propylene glycol are also used in case the ingredients are not easily soluble in alcohol or water.
The proportion of alcohol water and other solvents varies depending on the solubility of other ingredients. For example; if the ingredient is not water soluble then the proportion of alcohol or other ingredients increases. Most of the time elixirs are pleasantly flavored to make palatable.
Read more about different liquid dosage forms
Types of elixirs in pharmacy
Elixirs are of two types; medicated and non medicated elixirs
- Non medicated elixirs
These are elixirs with no medicines in them. It is used as a vehicle and flavoring agents for other preparations. Also it is used to dilute other elixirs to adjust the dosage for different patients.
Examples are: Aromatic elixirs, compound benzaldehyde elixirs, iso alcoholic elixirs
- Medicated elixirs
Medicated elixirs most of the time contain a potent therapeutic agent. Usually single active ingredients are added. The medicinal agent used in elixir must be stable in aqueous and in alcohol medium.
Examples of medicated elixirs are
- Antihistamine elixirs like chlorpheniramine maleate elixirs
- Sedative elixirs like barbiturate elixirs
- Expectorant elixirs etc.
Applications of elixirs in pharmacy
- Elixirs contain both aqueous and alcoholic parts. It makes production of preparations containing water soluble and alcohol soluble ingredients more easy.
- Elixirs are clear and less viscous as compared to many other liquid dosage forms
- It is comparatively easy to prepare
- Preparations containing more than 10% of alcohol act as self preservative against mould growth.
Limitations of elixirs in pharmacy
- Because of its alcohol contents it is not suitable for childrens
- There are many ingredients which precipitate out in the presence alcohol cannot be used in the preparation process
- Elixirs containing high alcohol contents are flammable and need special storage conditions.
Adjuncts used in the preparation of elixirs
- Chemical stabilizers:
Various chemical stabilizers like antioxidants, buffering agents etc are used in the production elixirs
For example disodium edetate is added to squeeze heavy metals in some elixirs
- Coloring agents:
Coloring agents commonly used in the preparation of elixirs include compound tartrazine, amaranth etc
- Flavoring agents:
Flavoring agents used in elixirs include lemon syrup, raspberry syrup, orange syrup, black currant syrup etc
- Preservatives:
Usually elixirs containing alcohol more than 10% acts as self preservatives. Other preservatives used include chloroform water, benzoic acid, methyl paraben etc.
Preparation of elixirs in pharmacy
In the preparation of elixirs water soluble ingredients are dissolved in purified water and alcohol soluble ingredients are dissolved in alcohol. After that water part is slowly added to the alcoholic parte and mixed to form a uniform phase. Make up to the required volume and keep for some time. Then filtered through a suitable medium to separate any oil globules etc. Sometimes solvents like glycerol sorbitol or propylene glycol are used to improve solubility of some ingredients.
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