Compounding II Flashcards
What should be done for equipment used for HDs?
Equipment used for HDs including routine equipment such as counting trays and spatulas, should be dedicated for HD preparation and sanitized after use
What is a cautionary note about calibration and equipment material?
Equipment must be calibrated regularly to confirm accuracy. Equipment should made of material that does not react with the compounding ingredients
When measuring volume, what is recommended when selecting a device to measure?
When measuring, select a device that has a measuring capacity equal to or slightly larger than the amount being measured to get the most accurate measurement
What system should measurements be made in?
Metric system
What are graduates and what are some examples of graduates?
Graduates are measuring equipment with lines on the glass that are used to measure the volume, and include graduated cylinders, conical graduates, graduated beakers and graduated medication containers
What is a graduated cylinder?
A graduated cylinder has the same diameter from the top to the bottom of the container and provides more accurate measurements than conical graduates, which have a wide mouth
Describe the accuracy when the mouth of the graduate is wide
The wider the mouth, the lower the accuracy
What are some important points about measuring volume using graduates?
- A graduate should not be used to measure volumes less than 20% of the graduate’s capacity (creates higher measuring error)
- To read the volume in a graduate, place it on a flat surface and view the height of the liquid in the cylinder at eye level
- The bottom of the meniscus, at the center is where the measurement is read
What piece of equipment is most accurate for measuring small volumes?
Syringes are most accurate for measuring small volumes
What are the advantages of using syringes to measure volume?
- They are especially useful for measuring viscous (thick) liquids, such as glycerin and mineral oil
- Patients receiving a liquid who require a very accurate dose should use an oral syringe for measurement rather than a small dosing cup, which has lower accuracy
What are hypodermic syringes commonly used for?
Hypodermic syringes are commonly used for sterile compounding to transfer drugs and additives into IV bags
When using syringes for sterile compounding, what should be done?
- All syringe packages should be wiped off with IPA 70% to remove contaminants and dust, prior to being brought into the SEC or PEC if working in a segregated compounding area
- Sterile syringes are individually wrapped, and must be opened along the seal to avoid shedding
What is the danger associated with recapping needles?
Recapping needles leads to needle-stick injuries. Needle-stick injuries can injure the staff, cause contamination to the compounded sterile products and carry infection risk
What are recommendations for preventing needle-stick injuries?
- In general, do not recap syringes
- It is preferable to use syringes with safety features, such as safety shields that cover the needle immediately after use
- If the needle must be recapped, it is safer to place the cap on the work surface (rather than holding it) and slip the tip of the needle into the cap, without letting the needle tip touch the work surface
What is the advantage of using Luer Locks?
Luer locks make secure, leak-free connections between syringes, catheters and IV lines. They have male and female ends that screw together, forming a tight seal
What do hypodermic syringes come with?
These come with cannulas (needles attached), or the cannula is separate and can be screwed onto the tip of the syringe
How do you choose the correct size syringe?
For drawing up medication, do not use the exact size syringe needed because the plunger can easily become dislodged. Select the closest syringe size above the size needed. Do not add two different syringe sizes for a dose
What should be done to separate between oral syringes and hypodermic syringes?
- Placing a “For Oral Use Only” sticker over the syringe cap
- Using a syringe design that prevents connection to an IV port
- Using oral syringes with brightly colored plungers/caps that differentiate them from IV syringes
- Clearly communicating the correct route of administration to the nurse
What are pipettes?
Pipettes are thin plastic or glass tubes used to measure small volumes
If a patient is using a pipette, what should the patient be counseled on?
If the pipette is being inserted into an opening such as a mouth or nose, it is important to keep the bulb squeezed after the dose is delivered and when withdrawing it, to avoid contaminating the inside of the pipette
What is a volumetric pipette?
A volumetric pipette draws up a set volume only, which is the volume the pipette can hold
What is a Mohr pipette?
A Mohr pipette is graduated and is used to measure different volumes. Mohr pipettes are commonly used in compounding
How much water do graduated dropped that meet USP criteria release?
Graduated droppers that meet USP criteria release drops of water that weight 45-55 mg, when held vertically
What kind of water drop is released from non-graduated medicine droppers?
Non-graduated medicine droppers that meet the USP criteria release a similarly-sized drop
What are the two types of balances used to weight ingredients?
The older balance is the Class III torsion balance and the most commonly used balance is the electronic balance
How do Class III torsion balances work?
Class III torsion balances have internal weights, which are used to weight quantities < 1 gram. When weight > 1 gram, external weights are placed on one pan and the substance to be weighed is placed on the other
What is sensitivity requirement and minimal weighable quantity?
Torsion balances have a sensitivity requirement that is most often 6 mg, meaning 6 mg can be added or removed before the dial moves 1 division. The minimal weighable quantity (the minimum amount that can be weighed) is calculated based on the SR and acceptable error rate (typically 0.05 or 5%)
How do you calculate MWQ?
MWQ = SR/acceptable error rate
What is the benefit of top-loading electronic balances over class III torsion balances?
This type of balance is simple to use and has higher sensitivity. It is not necessary to calculate the MWQ with a modern electronic balance
How do you use an electronic balance?
When using an electronic balance, the compounder must “tare” or “zero out” the balance after placing the weight boat or glassine paper on the scale. This ensures that only the ingredients are weighed and the container or paper used to hold the ingredients are not included in the weight
What are requirements of weighing a product with both types of balances?
With either balance, never place material to be weighed directly on the balance. The material will be placed on a weight boat (a shallow dish) or on glassine weighing paper, which is coated to reduce moisture penetration
What is a mortar and pestle?
The mortar is the bowl and the pestle is the blunt, heavy stick
What is a mortar and pestle used for?
Mortars and pestles are used to grind substances into finer consistency and can be used to stir and mix small amounts of ingredients
What types of mortars and pestles are needed in a compounding pharmacy?
A compounding pharmacy needs at least one glass and one Wedgewood or porcelain mortar and pestle
What is the function of a glass mortar?
Glass mortars are used for liquids, such as suspensions and solutions, and for mixing compounds that are oily or can stain
What is the function of a wedgewood mortar?
Wedgewood mortars have a rough surface and are preferred for grinding drug crystals and hard powders
What is the function of porcelain mortars?
Porcelain mortars have a smooth surface, and are preferred for blending powders and pulverizing gummy consistencies
What are spatulas used for?
Spatulas are used to mix and transfer (move) ingredients from one place (such as an ointment slab) to another place (such as a container)
What does the flat part of the spatula do?
The flat part of the blade can be used to flatten and grind down ingredients, and to pack preparations such as ointments into containers
What are the different materials that spatulas can be made out of?
Spatulas are made of stainless steel, plastic or hard rubber
When should a steel spatula not be used?
A steel (metal) spatula would not be used if making a mixture that contains metallic ions
When is a rubber spatula used?
A rubber spatula is used to handle corrosive material
What is the main purpose of compounding (or ointment) slabs?
Ingredients are mixed into ointments on a compounding (or ointment) slab, which is flat board made of porcelain or glass
Why can ointment slabs also be used as a work surface?
Ointment slabs are used as a work surface for other purposes besides making ointments since the material is hard and non-reactive
When can disposable parchment ointment pads be used as a work surface?
Disposable parchment ointment pads can be used as a work surface if teh water content of the mixture will not cause the paper to tear
What are powder sieves and what is its purpose?
Sieves are sifters similar to those used in baking. After a powder has been ground fine, it is sifted in order to ensure a uniform particle size
What are some examples of electric mixing equipment?
Ointment mills, homogenizers and grinders are used to mix ingredients
How does an ointment mill work?
An ointment mill draws the ointment (or another semi-solid preparation) between rollers that grind and homogenize the ingredients in the preparations
How does a homogenizer work?
A homogenizer can be used to mix ointments, creams or other semi-solid preparations. The homogenizer is similar to a smoothie blender, although with more power, and at a higher cost
What is the function of a grinder?
A grinder is useful for grinding hard tablets down. The powder will need further preparation to produce a fine powder
How is a hot plate with a magnetic stirrer beneficial?
A hot plate with a magnetic stirrer can save time by continuously stirring the mixture to dissolve and mix the ingredients
How does a hot plate with magnetic stirrer work?
The stirrer has a rotating magnet under the ceramic plate, which causes the stir bar (placed inside the glass) to spin and stir the components
How do hot plates work?
Hot plated provide direct heat to soften and melt ingredients, and to hasten chemical reactions
When is a water bath helpful for heating?
A water bath is helpful when the temperature needs to be carefully controlled. The water bath protects the ingredients from overheating and burning. The ingredients to be melted will be in a container that is placed into a larger container filled with water. The water in the outer container separates the inner container from the direct heat source, to prevent burning
What are molds used for?
Reusable or disposable molds are used to prepare tablets, lozenges/troches (orally-dissolving tablets) and suppositories. With soft delivery vehicles, the medication is often dispensed in a disposable plastic mold. This helps keep the product in the correct shape. Refrigeration helps soft products retain shape
What is a tablet press and how do you use it?
A tablet press is two plastic or metal plates used to compress damp powder into tablets. The compounder takes the pasty mass and uses the tablet press to form table shapes. After the mold shapes the tablets, the tablets are removed, and given time to dry
What can capsules be made out of?
Capsules can be soft gels or hard shells
What are hard shells made of?
The shells are made of gelatin, which is pork-derived, or from hypromellose or a similar plant-derived product
What are the range of capsule sizes?
Capsule sizes range from 000 (the largest size) to 5 (the smallest size)
What are tube sealers?
Tube-sealers heat and squeeze the ends of the tubes shut; the end will look similar to the crimped end of a toothpaste tube
What do all medications include?
All medications, whether compounded or not, include the drug/s (called the active pharmaceutical ingredients or APIs) and the excipients
What is the purpose of excipients?
Excipients do not produce therapeutic effect, but are needed to make the dosage form stable, functional and, with some oral dosage forms, palatable
Where can you find a list of high-quality ingredients recommended for use?
The USP National Formulary (USP-NF) and the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) substances list
Preferable, where should ingredients be manufactured?
Preferably, ingredients should be manufactured at an FDA-registered facility. If any substance comes from a non-FDA registered facility, a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) should be obtained that confirms the specifications and quality
Why are expiration dates important?
Expiration dates are important to ensure that the product retains potency and is non-toxic
What should be done if there is an ingredient without an expiration date?
The pharmacist will assign a conservative (cautious) date that is no more than 3 years from the date of receipt (the day the pharmacy received the item). The label on the container should include the date of receipt and the assigned expiration date
What is the function of surfactants?
Surfactants lower the surface tension between two ingredients (or phases) in a preparation to make them more miscible (easier to mix together). The side of the phase that is close to the other phase is the “face” of the phase, and the interfacial tension is the tension at the interface. The surfactant lowers the interfacial tension, to help the phases move closer together
What is the MOA of a surfactant?
The common MOA of a surfactant involves forming a micellar structure which can reverse. If oil and water are mixed, the oil will interact with the lipophilic end of the surfactant, and the water will interact with the hydrophilic end of the surfactant. Surfactants are amphiphilic
What is a non-micelle MOA of surfactants?
Surfactants do not always form micelles; some form a film between the surfaces, or form and electrically-charged layer to keep the phases separate
What are other practical uses of surfactants?
By keeping the drug dispersed, a consistent dose is delivered. In manufacturing, the micelles formed by surfactants are used to facilitate gut absorption of lipophilic drugs and are used to control the rate of drug release. When the surface tension is lowered, it is easier to grind particles down, and to mix ingredients
What are wetting agents?
Wetting agents are substances that reduce the surface tension between a liquid and a solid to permit the substance to more easily spread
How would you use a wetting agent?
A fine powder that will be incorporated into a suspension is wetted with a wetting agent and stirred into a thick paste prior to being put into the delivery vehicle
What is an emulsion?
An emulsion is two or more liquids which are not able to be blended together (immiscible), such as water droplets dispersed in oil or oil droplets dispersed in water
What are emulsifiers?
Emulsifiers are added to an emulsion to help keep the liquid droplets dispersed throughout the liquid vehicle. This helps prevent the two liquids from separating into distinct (separate) phases
What is a suspension?
A suspension is a solid dispersed in a liquid
What are suspending agents?
Suspending agents are added to suspensions to help keep the solid particles from settling. Suspending agents do not keep suspensions separated for long, and suspensions must be shaken to redisperse the solid prior to use
What is a plasticizer?
A suspending agent can be a plasticizer, where plasticizer means that it will make the preparation easier to shape or mold.
What are some commercially available suspending agents?
Ora-plus and ora-sweet
Describe the properties of ora-plus
- Composed of a gel-like structure that keeps drug particles suspended and prevents settling
- Slightly acidic to prevent drug degradation through oxidation
- Bland taste; must be combined with Ora-Sweet for flavor
Describe the properties of Ora-Sweet.
- Similar to simple syrup
- Provides flavor to Ora-Plus
What is the purpose of levigation and trituration?
Levigation and trituration are both used to grind down particles
What is the difference between levigation and trituration?
The difference is that levigation uses a levigating agent such as glycerin or mineral oil to aid in grinding. Trituration is the grinding of particles without the addition of a liquid
What are the most commonly used levigating agents?
Mineral oil is a commonly used levigating agent for lipophilic compounds and glycerin or propylene glycol are used for aqueous compounds
What is a foaming agent and how does it work?
Foaming agents help foam to form by lowering the surface tension of water
What are PEG and Poloxamer commonly used for?
Both delivery vehicles and surfactants
*Have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts, which makes them useful for a variety of preparations
What is the primary consideration in selecting the surfactant to use in an emulsion?
A primary consideration in selecting the surfactant to use in an emulsion will be whether the emulsion is a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion or an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion
What formulations are typically w/o formulations?
Topical formulations