The document discusses thixotropy, which is defined as the reversible transformation of a semi-solid material from a solid state to a liquid state and back again due to applied stress over time. Examples of thixotropic materials include ketchup, paints, and yogurt. A key characteristic of thixotropic materials is their hysteresis loop, which is formed on a rheogram by the upcurve and downcurve of viscosity with increasing and decreasing shear rates. The area of the hysteresis loop can be used to measure the degree of thixotropic breakdown. Thixotropy is a desirable property for liquid pharmaceuticals as it allows the material to have a high consistency at rest but flow easily upon shaking before reg