The glassy state of many solids is achieved when the solids are heated
above their melting point (T(m)) and rapidly cooled through it. Glass
y solids are usually brittle and transparent. The glassy state can be
identified through the glass transition temperature (T(g)) using diffe
rential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC
), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), dynamic thermomechanical analysis
(dTMA), or torsional braid analysis (TBA). Pulsed NMR spectroscopy is
also a method used for confirmation of the glassy state. In this paper
most attention is devoted to the low-molecular glassy pharmaceuticals
. The influence of cooling rate during glass preparation on T(g), the
influence of heating rate on T(g), the influence of heating rate on cr
ystallization, and the influence of annealing on the glassy state are
reviewed and discussed with reference to the recently published origin
al research papers. The possibility that glass dispersion systems may
be used to improve the stability and useability of glassy pharmaceutic
als is also included.