Advantages and Disadvantages of Pharmaceutical Suspension

The main advantages and disadvantages of Pharmaceutical Suspension are stated below:

Advantages

i) It is easy to dispense unstable or degradable drugs in solution form.

ii) Suspension is the only choice if the drug is not soluble in water and non-aqueous solvent is not acceptable, e.g., corticosteroids suspension.

iii) Suspension is most suitable for drugs having unpleasant taste and odor e.g., Chloramphenical palmitate (bitter taste).

iv) The insoluble solids act as a reservoir and continuously supply the drug into solution, which is absorbed over a long period e.g., Protamine zinc-Insulin.

v) Drug in suspension exhibits a higher rate of bioavailability compared to the same drug of equivalent dose formulated in tablets or capsules. This is due to larger surface area and high dissolution, e.g., antacid suspension.

Disadvantages

1. Sedimentation of solids occasionally gives poor form of product. It may lead to caking (formation of compact mass), which is difficult to dispense.

2. Dose precision cannot be achieved unless suspensions are packed in unit dosage forms.

3. Sometimes microbial contamination takes place if preservation not added in accurate proportion.

4. A suspension being a bulky product, transportation cost is high.