What is the difference between an elixir, suspension and solution?
All three of the above have a couple things in common, they are liquids and they have medicine in them. The solution has the medicine dissolved in it so there is no need to shake the bottle before giving or taking the medicine because the medicine is always equally dispersed throughout all of the liquid. Think of an elixir as a solution with alcohol. The amount of alcohol in the elixir varies. A suspension has the medicine suspended in the liquid and therefore settling of the medicine may occur. Because of this settling, shaking of a suspension is necessary to be certain you are getting the proper amount of medication. How do you know which is best, the elixir, suspension or solution? There is not one that is considered to be superior to the others. Since the elixir has alcohol, many persons stay away from this form. The suspension often times taste better than a solution, if a particularly bad tasting medicine is involved. The solution has the convenience of no alcohol and no shaking
