A pharmaceutical preparation of a solid dispersed in a liquid medium defines a system where insoluble drug particles are finely divided and distributed throughout a vehicle, typically water. This mixture appears cloudy or opaque due to the presence of these undissolved particles. An example includes amoxicillin formulations for oral administration where the active antibiotic is present as solid particles dispersed in a sweetened liquid.
The development of these systems allows for the delivery of medications that are unstable or insoluble in solution. They offer improved patient compliance through palatable formulations, particularly important in pediatric and geriatric populations. Historically, compounding pharmacies frequently prepared them extemporaneously, but now many are manufactured on a large scale to ensure consistent quality and dosing.
