Elixirs

physical pharmacy- Elxirs

1. ELIXIRS SAYAN KUNDU DR.B.C. ROY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

2. “ Elixirs are clear, sweetened and flavored hydro alcoholic liquid preparation intended for oral use.” Defination

3. The main ingredients of elixirs are as follow Ethyl alcohol (5-40%) Water Glycerin or Propylene glycol Flavoring agents Colouring agents and Suitable preservative Ingredients

4. Medicated Elixirs Non medicated Elixirs Types of Elixirs

5. Medicated elixirs are solution of active ingredients dissolved in water and alcohol and an alcohol along with other other exipients such as preservatives. EXAMPLE Antihistaminic Elixirs: used against allergy: chlorampheniramine malate elixirs (USP), diphenhydramine HCL elixirs. Sedative and hypnotic elixirs : sedatives induce drowsiness, and hypnotics induce sleep: pediatric chloral hydrate elixirs. Expectorant: used to facilitate productive cough ( cough with sputum): terpin hydrate elixirs. Miscellaneous: acetaminophen ( paracetamol ) elixirs, which are used as analgesics. Medicated Elixirs

6. Non medicated elixirs are Simple, no therapeutic agents May only contain alcohol, sweetening agents, colouring agents Self preserve EXAMPLE Aromatic elixirs Isoalcoholic elixirs Non medicated elixirs

7. INGREDIENTS: Generally elixirs contain following ingredients: Vehicles About 10-20% of alcohol is used for keeping oils , vegetables extracts, tannins etc in solution form. Glycerol and propylene glycerol are used as solvent. Stabalizers In neomycin elixirs, citric acid is used to adjust pH 4.0 – 5.0 to minimize the darkening that occurs on storage. Disodium edetate should be used to sequester heavy metals that catalyse decomposition of the antibiotics. Formulation of Elixirs

8. Sweetning agents and fruit flavours are used in many medicinal preparation eg ; black currant syrp in chloral Elixirs. Compound orange spirits with gycerol in phenobarbital elixir. Preservatives In elixirs, fermantation and mold growth are inhibited when it contains more than 20% of alcohol, propylene glycol or glycerol. The commonly used preservatives are double strength chloroform, spirit, and benzoic acid and methyl ester of P- hydroxy benzoic acid. Flavorings agents

9. Dissolve the water soluble ingredients in part of water, add and dissolve the sucrose in it. Dissolve the other ingredients in the alcohol. (concentration of alcohol should be 5-40% to make clear solution) The aqueous solution is then added to the alcoholic solution with constant stirring and make up the volume with the solvent or vehicle specified in the formulation. Sucrose increase viscosity but decreases the solubility properties of water and so must be added after primary solution has been carried out. A high alcoholic content is maintained during preparation by adding aqueous phase to the alcoholic solution. Elixirs should be brilliantly clear and therefore strained or filtered, if necessary, subjected to clarifying action of purified talc or siliceous earth. Method of preparation

10. Research concerning the preparation of a dry elixirs has been conducted by kim and co_workers . Dry Elixirs containing a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ethanol were encapsulated in a dextrin. The dissolution rate constant of the drug from the microcapsules usually increased considerably compared to the drug alone, possibly due to the cosolvent ethanol. It is suggested that this type of dosage form may be useful to improve. Dry Elixers

11. It should be dispensed in narrow, screw capped, colorless plain bottle. Do not store above 40 degree centrigrde . Storage

12. Advantages: Elixirs are more fluid than syrups. It often is desirable, it is more effective in masking such tastes. Elixirs are more readily prepared and manufactured then syrups. An elixirs may contain both water and alcohol soluble ingredients. Disadvantages: Alcohol is not good for children. Because they contain volatile materials, it must be stored in a watertight screw-top jar and away from sources of ignition. Advantages and Disadvantages

13. Determination of alcohol concentration: Elixirs usually contain 5-40% alcohol. The determination of alcohol unless specified in the individual monograph. Cloudy distillates may be clarified by agitation with talc, or with calcium carbonate. And filtration I done. For liquid it is presumed to contain less than 30%of alcohol. Viscosity measurement: Viscosity is a property of liquids that is directly related to be resistance to flow. Viscosity and consistency directly relates with stability of solutions viscosity change of stability. Viscosity measurement is very important quality test in case of syrups an elixirs. Quality control tests for Elixirs

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