Witold Stefan Jucha, Barbara Pandyra-Kowalska, Anna Jaros, Agnieszka Oleszek, Dorota Czechowska

Decomposition of the manufactured dosage forms and preparation of oral suspensions for pediatric patients and patients with swallowing difficulties

DOI: 10.32383/farmpol/242053

2026-10-29

Research subject. Dysphagia affects a wide range of patients, including children,  older adults, and patients with cancer. As a liquid dosage form, oral suspensions constitute a substantial proportion of compounded medications prepared in pharmacies. However, obtaining a stable suspension that meets pharmacopeial requirements can be time-consuming and challenging, with difficulties arising at various stages,  from the selection of the vehicle to the preparation process itself.

Research objective. In this study, a modified classical method for preparing suspensions was compared with the use of a planetary mixing machine. The study involved the preparation of five of the most commonly compounded suspensions, and was performed at the University Hospital in Kraków. The following parameters were evaluated: preparation time, sedimentation rate, stability during 7 days of storage at room temperature, and particle size in the obtained suspensions.

Material and methods. The suspensions were prepared using ready-to-use medications in the form of uncoated tablets (Cyclonamina 250 mg, Spironol 25 mg), polymer-film-coated tablets (Memotropil 1200 mg), sugar-coated tablets (Agapurin 100 mg), and hard gelatin capsules (Proursan 250 mg). Each suspension was prepared using two methods and three types of vehicle. The suspensions were prepared using the classical method employed at the University Hospital in Kraków and the planetary mixing method. Particle size was assessed using a Motic BA410E optical microscope with Motic Images Advanced 3.2 software.

Results. Regardless of the vehicle selection and preparation method, all suspensions, when shaken for 30 seconds, maintained uniform dispersion for a period significantly longer than the 3 minutes required by the pharmacopeia. Particle size was assessed using an optical microscope. The results, considered alongside other observations, confirm that the preparations were made correctly and meet the established quality criteria.

Conclusions. All of the examined suspensions—whether prepared using a modified classical method or a planetary mixer—meet pharmacopeial requirements. Furthermore, the use of the planetary mixer reduces the time required and simplifies the preparation of suspensions. The mixing parameters (time) should be selected based on the drug’s composition.

Keywords: stability, dysphagia, planetary mixer, oral suspensions.

© Farm Pol, 2026, 82(5): 281–291