SUSPENSIONS

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SUSPENSIONS

Suspensions are biphasic liquid dosage form consisting of finely divided solid particles dispersed in liquid medium with the help of suspending agent.

Components of Pharmaceutical Suspensions

Active Ingredients: The therapeutic agents that form the core of the suspension.
Suspension Vehicles: The liquid base that suspends the active ingredients.
Stabilizers: Additives that prevent particle settling and maintain uniformity.

The requirements/characteristics for a good suspension

1. It should be chemically stable.

2. The sediment should be easily re-dispersed.

3. The suspension should be easily removed from the container.

4. The suspension should be free from large particles.

5. They should be resistant to micro – organisms.

6. Suspension for internal use must be palatable & suspension for external use should be force from gritty sealing.

Flocculated & De-flocculated suspension.

Flocculated suspension:

In flocculating system, when a suspending agent is added it should be well absorbed, due to the repulsive forces are low & the attractive forces are high. The individual particles are able to attract each other & form loose aggregates known as floccules.

This suspension is said to be flocculated.

Deflocculated suspension:

In deflocculated system, when a suspending agent is added. The individual particles are dispersed with the aid of suspending agent. Due to the repulsive forces are high & the attractive forces are low. The individual particles are not able to attract each other. So the particles remain dispersed & do not aggregate. This suspension is said to be de-flocculated.

Differences between flocculated suspension and Deflocculated Suspension

Flocculated suspension	Deflocculated suspension
1. Particles from loose aggregate	Particles exist in suspension as separate entity
2. Rate of sedimentation is high	Rate of sedimentation is low
3. Sediment is formed rapidly	Sediment is formed slowly
4. The floccules stick to the sides of the container	They do not stick to the sides of the container
5.On shaking the sediment is easily re- dispersed	On shaking the sediment is difficult to re-disperse
6. The suspension has a pleasing appearance	The suspension does not have a pleasing appearance

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Are pharmaceutical suspensions safe for long-term use?
- Yes, when formulated and stored correctly, pharmaceutical suspensions are safe for long-term use.
Can suspensions be administered to children and older adults?
- Absolutely, pharmaceutical suspensions are often preferred for pediatric and geriatric populations due to their ease of administration.
Do all medications have suspension forms available?
- While not all medications are available in suspension form, a wide range of drugs can be formulated as suspensions.
How do pharmaceutical suspensions contribute to environmental sustainability?
- Some pharmaceutical companies are adopting eco-friendly packaging for suspensions to reduce their environmental impact.
Is it true that suspensions have a shorter shelf life compared to other dosage forms?
- Not necessarily. Properly formulated and stored suspensions can have a comparable shelf life to other dosage forms.