Which liquid dosage form contains water, alcohol, and sugar and is suitable for substances poorly soluble in water?

Which liquid dosage form contains water, alcohol, and sugar and is suitable for substances poorly soluble in water?

• A. Syrups
• B. Solutions
• C. Elixirs
• D. Suspensions

Answer: (C)

Elixirs are hydroalcoholic, sweetened liquids used to dissolve substances that don’t dissolve well in water. The combination of water and alcohol provides a solvent system that can dissolve drugs with limited water solubility, and the added sugar (with flavoring) makes the solution palatable. Because it forms a true solution, the drug is dissolved uniformly, resulting in a clear liquid rather than a suspension. This differentiates elixirs from syrups, which are mainly concentrated sugar solutions in water with little or no alcohol, and from suspensions, where the drug remains dispersed as particles rather than dissolved. The alcohol content in elixirs is the key factor enabling better solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs, while the sugar and flavors ensure acceptable taste.

Elixirs are hydroalcoholic, sweetened liquids used to dissolve substances that don’t dissolve well in water. The combination of water and alcohol provides a solvent system that can dissolve drugs with limited water solubility, and the added sugar (with flavoring) makes the solution palatable. Because it forms a true solution, the drug is dissolved uniformly, resulting in a clear liquid rather than a suspension. This differentiates elixirs from syrups, which are mainly concentrated sugar solutions in water with little or no alcohol, and from suspensions, where the drug remains dispersed as particles rather than dissolved. The alcohol content in elixirs is the key factor enabling better solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs, while the sugar and flavors ensure acceptable taste.