**4. Various dosage form of analgesic and their mode of actions and limitations**

#### **4.1. Conventional dosage forms of analgesics**

Conventional dosage forms of analgesic are the same as any conventional dosage form of general pharmaceuticals. Dosage which is synonymous with unit doses, means pharmaceutical drug products in the form found commercially in the market with a spe‐ cific mixture of active ingredients and inactive excipients in specific form or configuration. Dosage forms come in several types, depending on the route of administration. The gen‐ eral forms include liquid, solid, and semisolid forms. Specifically, conventional dosage forms are solutions or suspensions for injection, pill, tablet, capsule, and syrup. Clearly, the administrative route of the drug is dependent on the dosage form of the substance. An oral solid dosage form is the solid form of a dose of a chemical compound used as a drug or medication intended for oral consumption. More than one dosage forms may exist for a single particular drug. This is due to the fact that different clinical conditions may need different routes of administration [8]. For example, where there is a condition of nausea or vomiting, it may be difficult to use an oral dosage form. Such condition may warrant an alternative route such as injection or rectal route. Dedicated specific route may be a requirement for certain kinds of drugs, as there may be issues with various factors like chemical stability or pharmacokinetics. A good example is the analgesic paracetamol, it exist in a number of dosage form, that is, tablet, capsule, syrup, suppository, and injec‐ tion (**Table 1**).



**Table 1.** Some of the analgesic and their dosage form available in the market.

**4. Various dosage form of analgesic and their mode of actions** 

Conventional dosage forms of analgesic are the same as any conventional dosage form of general pharmaceuticals. Dosage which is synonymous with unit doses, means pharmaceutical drug products in the form found commercially in the market with a spe‐ cific mixture of active ingredients and inactive excipients in specific form or configuration. Dosage forms come in several types, depending on the route of administration. The gen‐ eral forms include liquid, solid, and semisolid forms. Specifically, conventional dosage forms are solutions or suspensions for injection, pill, tablet, capsule, and syrup. Clearly, the administrative route of the drug is dependent on the dosage form of the substance. An oral solid dosage form is the solid form of a dose of a chemical compound used as a drug or medication intended for oral consumption. More than one dosage forms may exist for a single particular drug. This is due to the fact that different clinical conditions may need different routes of administration [8]. For example, where there is a condition of nausea or vomiting, it may be difficult to use an oral dosage form. Such condition may warrant an alternative route such as injection or rectal route. Dedicated specific route may be a requirement for certain kinds of drugs, as there may be issues with various factors like chemical stability or pharmacokinetics. A good example is the analgesic paracetamol, it exist in a number of dosage form, that is, tablet, capsule, syrup, suppository, and injec‐

**Type of pain killer in the market Common dosage form available**

injection

injection

1. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) Tablets, solution, suspension, suppository,

4. Diclofenac Tablets, capsules, gel (local application) 5. Fentanyl Tablets, capsules, \*transdermal patch

8. Hydromorphone Tablets, injection, suppositories, liquid

11. Methadone Tablets, oral solution, oral concentrate,

9. Ibuprofen Tablets, solution, suspension 10. Meloxicam Tablets, oral suspension

2. Paracetamol with codiene Tablets, solution, suspension

3. Celecoxib Capsules

6. Hydrocodone Tablets, elixer 7. Hydrocodone with paracetamol Tablets, elixer

12. \*\*Methylprednisolone Tablets, injection 13. Milnacipran Tablets, injection

**and limitations**

tion (**Table 1**).

**4.1. Conventional dosage forms of analgesics**

14 Pain Relief - From Analgesics to Alternative Therapies
