glycerite
Definition
Noun: A medicinal preparation created by dissolving or suspending a therapeutic substance in glycerin. Glycerites are used to preserve and administer certain drugs, often for topical application or as a sweetened vehicle for oral doses.
Usage
A glycerite is a specific type of pharmaceutical formulation. It is used to describe the medicine itself, not the process of making it. - The pharmacist compounded a soothing glycerite of tannic acid for the patient's sore throat. - Some herbal extracts are more stable when prepared as a glycerite rather than a tincture.
Advanced Usage
- Technical Context: In pharmacy, a glycerite is classified as a monophasic liquid preparation where glycerin is the primary solvent. Its hygroscopic nature helps keep applied areas moist.
- The formulation of phenol glycerite requires careful calculation of concentration.
Variants and Related Words
- Glycerin (noun): Also called glycerol, it is the clear, sweet, viscous liquid solvent used as the base for a glycerite.
- Glycerinated (adjective): Describes a substance that has been mixed with or dissolved in glycerin.
- The glycerinated extract had a longer shelf life.
Synonyms
- Glycerol solution (in a medicinal context)
- Glycerinated preparation
Different Meanings
The word "glycerite" is highly specific to pharmacy and medicine. It does not have common alternative meanings in general English.
Noun
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a medicine made by mixing a substance in glycerin
