Liquid pharmaceutical for oral delivery

Abstract

A liquid pharmaceutical for oral delivery wherein at the time of use, a solid unit dosage form is added to the liquid wherein the unit dosage form is comprised of a substrate soluble in the liquid and a particulate pharmaceutically active material in a pharmaceutically effective amount. At the time of use, the unit dosage form is added to the liquid, without requiring measurement of the liquid, and the entire liquid is consumed to provide for oral delivery of the pharmaceutically effective amount of material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for preparing a pharmaceutical for oral delivery in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier, comprising: 
 at the time of use, adding to a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier a solid unit dosage form, said solid unit dosage form comprising a substrate that disintegrates in the liquid carrier, and at least one particulate pharmaceutically active material deposited on the substrate as a layer distinct from the substrate, said at least one pharmaceutically active material being present on said substrate in a pharmaceutically effective amount whereby said at least one pharmaceutically active material can be orally delivered in the liquid carrier in a pharmaceutically effective dosage without measuring the quantity of liquid carrier at the time of use.    
     
     
         2 . A product comprising: 
 a package; a plurality of solid unit dosage forms comprising a substrate that is soluble in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid and at least one particulate pharmaceutically active material deposited on the substrate as a layer distinct from the substrate, said at least one pharmaceutically active material being present on said substrate in a pharmaceutically effective amount; and instruction to add the solid unit dosage form, at the time of use, to a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier for oral delivery in said carrier.    
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said at least one pharmaceutically active material is present on said substrate in a dosage suitable for administration to children.  
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said layer of said at least one pharmaceutically active material is essentially free of materials other than pharmaceutically active material.  
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said at least one pharmaceutically active material is present on said substrate in a dosage suitable for administration to a geriatric patient.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier is water.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose, and agar.  
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose, and agar.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said pharmaceutically active material is an antibiotic.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said pharmaceutically active material is an anti-viral agent.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said pharmaceutically active material is an anti-fungal agent.  
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said pharmaceutically active material is an antibiotic.  
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said pharmaceutically active material is an anti-viral agent.  
     
     
         14 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said pharmaceutically active material is an anti-fungal agent.