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API refers to the key ingredient or chemical that makes the drug work.
While a finished formulation or a formulation intermediate is the process in which different chemicals including the active ingredients are mixed in specific ratios to produce a specific drug.
API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient):
The pure, active chemical that produces the desired therapeutic effect in a drug.
Considered the “active” part of the medication.
Can be synthesized chemically or derived from natural sources
Formulation:
The process of combining the API with various inactive ingredients (excipients) to create a final drug product with specific characteristics like dosage, stability, and delivery method.
Excipients can include fillers, binders, disintegrates, coatings, and solvents depending on the desired dosage form.
Different types of Pharmaceutical Formulation:
Solid Formulations:
Tablets: Compressed solid dosage forms
Capsules: Powder or granules enclosed in a gelatin shell
Granules: Loose particles of medication
Liquid Formulations:
Syrups: Aqueous solutions with added sugar for taste
Solutions: Drugs dissolved in a liquid vehicle
Suspensions: Solid particles dispersed in a liquid
Parenteral Formulations (Injectables):
Solutions: Sterile liquids for injection
Suspensions: Sterile particles dispersed in a liquid for injection
Topical Formulations (Applied to skin):
Creams
Ointments
Gels
