Elixir

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Sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes

title: "Elixir" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["drug-delivery-devices", "dosage-forms"] description: "Sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes" topic_path: "general/drug-delivery-devices" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Élixir_Raspail_devenu_élixir_Angelo.jpg" caption="Label from a bottle of Elixir Raspail, claiming its effectiveness against [[epidemic diseases"] ::

An elixir is a sweet liquid used for medical purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one's illness. When used as a pharmaceutical preparation, an elixir contains at least one active ingredient designed to be taken orally.

Etymology

The word was introduced in late Middle English, through Latin from the Arabic الإكسير (ar), which in turn is the Arabization of the Ancient Greek ξήριον (grc) (from ξηρός (grc) ).

Types

Non-medicated elixirs

These are used as solvents or vehicles for the preparation of medicated elixirs. Active ingredients are dissolved in a 15–⁠50% by volume solution of ethyl alcohol:

  • aromatic elixirs (USP)
  • isoalcoholic elixirs (NF)
  • compound benzaldehyde elixirs (NF)

Medicated elixirs

These include:

East Asian vitamin drinks

Daily non-alcoholic non-caffeinated 'vitamin drinks' have been popular in East Asia since the 1950s, with Oronamin from Otsuka Pharmaceutical perhaps the market leader. Packaged in brown light-proof bottles, these drinks have the reputation of being enjoyed by old men and other health-conscious individuals. Counterparts exist in South Korea and China.

Western energy drinks typically have caffeine and are targeted at a younger demographic, with colorful labels and printed claims of increased athletic/daily performance.

Pseudomedicinal drinks

See Patent medicine.

Composition

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Elixir_Mondet_gentiane_affi.JPG" caption="Poster for Elixir Mondet, 1899"] ::

An elixir is a hydro-alcoholic solution of at least one active ingredient. The alcohol is mainly used to:

  • Solubilize the active ingredient(s) and some excipients
  • Retard the crystallization of sugar
  • Preserve the finished product
  • Provide a sharpness to the taste
  • Aid in masking the unpleasant taste of the active ingredient(s)
  • Enhance the flavor. The lowest alcoholic quantity that will dissolve completely the active ingredient(s) and give a clear solution is generally chosen. High concentrations of alcohol give burning taste to the final product.

An elixir may also contain the following excipients:

Storage

Elixirs should only be stored in a tightly closed, light resistant container away from direct heat and sunlight.

References

References

  1. {{Cite EB1911
  2. For centuries, ''elixir'' primarily meant an ingredient used in [[alchemy]], either referring to a liquid which purportedly converts lead to gold, or a substance or liquid which is believed to cure all ills and [[Elixir of immortality. give eternal life]]. That which would indefinitely prolong life (more fully ''elixir vitae'', "elixir of life") was considered to be closely related to, or even identical with, the substance for transmuting metals.Encyclopedia Britannica, "Elixir"

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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