Which statement about elixirs is correct?

• A. They typically use a mixture of water and alcohol as solvents
• B. They rely only on water
• C. They are always non-alcoholic
• D. They are never sweetened

Answer: (A)

Elixirs are clear, sweetened oral liquids that are based on a hydroalcoholic solvent system. The alcohol (ethanol) component helps dissolve drugs that aren’t very water-soluble and also provides preservation. Because of this, the solvent is not just water alone, and elixirs are not inherently non-alcoholic. They are usually sweetened to improve palatability, so saying they are never sweetened is inaccurate. Therefore, using a mixture of water and alcohol as the solvent best describes elixirs.