Drops

Drops, a pharmaceutical form for liquids administered in quantities not exceeding 1 g per dose. In this form, solutions of alkaloids, tinctures, and alcoholic solutions are most often given internally. For external application, different types of drops are distinguished: eye drops, dental drops, nasal drops, and ear drops. A characteristic feature of drops is that they usually do not contain substances used to correct smell or taste (corrigens); thus, drops consist only of medicinal substances and a solvent. The drop form is not designed for precise dosing. Depending on which dropper is used to measure the drops, their weight varies within wide limits, which must be taken into account when prescribing. Assuming that drops from a pharmacy dropper will be similar in size to those measured from a standard dropper, it can be taken as the basis for calculations that 1 drop of distilled water weighs approximately 0.05 g (1 g = 20 drops); of aqueous solutions of non-volatile salts - from 0.04 to 0.055 g (1 g = 18-25 drops); of alcoholic solutions and tinctures - from 0.016 to 0.019 g (1 g = 52-63 drops); of fatty oils, including liquid paraffin - from 0.019 to 0.022 g (1 g = 45-53 drops); of alcoholic-ether liquids - from 0.014 to 0.016 g (1 g = 64-73 drops). Drops for internal administration are taken in a glass of water or milk or on a piece of sugar; after taking the drops, they are followed with water.