The chemical formulation of water is H2O.
Formulation is the act and consequence of formulating . This verb ( formulate ), meanwhile, refers to expressing a proposition, a complaint or another message in precise terms .
If we focus on chemistry and mathematics , formulating means representing a composition or a relationship using symbols or signs . This process is called formulation.
How a formulation is developed
For formulation, the components are combined in the structure indicated by a formula . Take the case of chemical formulation : in this framework, the elements of a compound are represented by indicating the number of atoms in a molecule or the proportion in which they appear.
The chemical formula of water , for example, is H2O . This is the result of the atom-centered formulation of each molecule: water molecules house two hydrogen atoms ( H2 ) and one oxygen atom ( O ).
In the field of pharmacy, formulation consists of the combination of different chemical substances to produce a medicine.
The concept in the pharmacy
In the field of pharmacy , formulation refers to the combination of various chemical substances for the production of a medicine . Sometimes the formulation is also linked to the dosage of the product.
Pharmaceutical formulation involves researching the drug to determine if it is stable and suitable for patients. In a previous stage, the excipients that have to be used in combination with the active ingredient are studied to optimize the results.
The route of pharmacological administration
According to the pharmacological administration route, the formulation has different characteristics. Medications can reach the patient as capsules , tablets , syrups , drops or gels , to name a few possibilities. Each alternative seeks to guarantee effectiveness and safety .
The concept of route of administration is far from being a mere property or secondary characteristic of the drug, but rather it is one of the most important points to study before indicating it to a patient, to achieve the best results and overcome different obstacles, such as be lack of mobility or swallowing problems.
Enteral or parenteral formulation
In this framework we must talk about enteral and parenteral formulations, which are directly related to the two main types of nutrition : enteral , which is administered into the digestive system, either through the mouth (orally) or directly into the gastric tract. (by probe); Parenteral , administered through a vein. This last resource is used for abnormal cases in which there are problems using the mouth or the patient needs more energy than they can acquire through their normal diet.
Enteral formulations are those that usually result in a medication in the form of capsules or tablets. The active substance, which we generally call a drug , has to be soluble in aqueous solution and issues such as particle dimensions and crystalline shape must be taken into account, since these are directly linked to the speed of dissolution. Note that a quick one is not always appropriate, because they can reduce the duration of the effects or cause high plasma levels in the first moments.
The tablet , as mentioned above, is one of the ways in which enteral formulation drugs are administered. Its general characteristics are usually the following: the active substance is found in a percentage ranging from 5 to 10; about 80 percent goes to disintegrants, fillers, glidants, binders and lubricants; The remaining percentage, which is around 10, is intended to guarantee the disaggregation, dissolution and disintegration of the product in the body.
Regarding parenteral formulations, they are also known as injectable formulations and are administered intra-articularly, intramuscularly, intravenously or subcutaneously. The storage of the drug, in this case, is done in unstable or liquid form, taking care of the ambient temperature.