Essentials in Non-Sterile Compounding

Question 1

Absorbent

Answer 1

Substance that takes up other substances

Question 2

Alkalization

Answer 2

Increase the pH by the addition of a base

Question 3

Amphoteric

Answer 3

A substance that can react as either an acid or a base

Question 4

Anhydrous

Answer 4

Free from water, dry

Question 5

Beyond-use date

Answer 5

The date after which of a compounded medication can no longer be used

Question 6

Commercially available product

Answer 6

Any product that is readily available in the market place which has been determined to be safe and effective and manufactured under rigorous good manufacturing practice requirements

Question 7

Comminute

Answer 7

In the pharmaceutical context, this involves the mechanical process of reducing the size of fine particles or aggregates; to pulverize

Question 8

Content Uniformity

Answer 8

is when the weight of the tablet or capsule does not vary significantly from others made in the same batch. A content uniformity test can be conducted and is described in USP 905

Question 9

Deliquescent

Answer 9

To melt or dissolve, to undergo gradual dissolution and liquefication, by absorbing moisture from the air

Question 10

Disperse

Answer 10

To scatter or incorporate the particles of one substance into another

Question 11

Displacement

Answer 11

The amount of substance removed by the addition of another

Question 12

Dissolution

Answer 12

The act of dissolving a substance in a liquid

Question 13

Effervescent

Answer 13

Product that bubbles or foams due to the release of gas

Question 14

Emulsion

Answer 14

A mixture of two liquids that are not soluble (immiscible) in each other. When shaken, one phase will form globules in the other

Question 15

Expiration date

Answer 15

The date after which a commercially manufactured medication can no longer be used

Question 16

Eutectic Mixture

Answer 16

Lowest possible temperature of solidification at which a mixture of two chemicals can become a liquid

Question 17

Excipients

Answer 17

Inert substanced added to another substance in order to attain a suitable consistency, shape, or form of a particular dosage form

Question 18

Gel-sol transition

Answer 18

Change from a semisolid (gel) to a liquid (sol) form

Question 19

Geometric dilution

Answer 19

This is done to ensure a homogeneous mixture when a small amount of active drug ingredient needs to be mixed with a larger quantity of excipient. This is acomplished by first adding about the same amount of excipient as there is active drug to the active ingredient in the mortar. This mixture is then titrated. Once titrated, the same amount of excipient is added to the newly created mixture in the mortar. This mixture is then titrated. This process continues until all the excipient powder is added and titrated

Question 20

Humectant

Answer 20

Material added to products that decrease the rate of water evaporation

Question 21

Hydrophillic

Answer 21

Substance that is attracted to water

Question 22

Hydrophobic

Answer 22

A substance that is repelled by water

Question 23

Hygroscopic

Answer 23

Absorbs moisture from the air

Question 24

Levigation

Answer 24

This is the process of forming a paste by the addition of a suitable non-solvent to the solid material. Particle size reduction is accomplished by grinding the paste in a mortar using a pestle or by using an ointment slab and a spatula

Question 25

Maceration

Answer 25

To make soft or seperate into constituent elements by steeping or soaking a properly comminuted drug or substance in a given vehicle

Question 26

Menstruum

Answer 26

A substance that dissolve a solid or hold it in suspension

Question 27

Mucoadhesive

Answer 27

Material that adheres to mucous membranes

Question 28

Mull

Answer 28

Verb: To grind or mix thoroughly
Noun: A finley powdered solid, especially that in a suspension

Question 29

Oleaginous

Answer 29

Having the qualities of fat

Question 30

Precipitate

Answer 30

Substance that is separated from a solution or suspension due to a physical or chemical change

Question 31

Saturation

Answer 31

Contains the maximum quantity under a given set of conditions

Question 32

Sprinkle

Answer 32

To add slowly without using a strainer

Question 33

Stability

Answer 33

The chemical and physical integrity of a drug product over time

Question 34

Stir by hand

Answer 34

Mixing or agitating a substance using a stir rod or other appropriate tool, without the use of a stir bar

Question 35

Stirring

Answer 35

Mixing or agitating a substance using a stir bar and the magnetic stir function of the hot plate

Question 36

Surfactant

Answer 36

Surface acting agent. A substance used to lower the surface tension of a liquid to facilitate compounding

Question 37

Suspending Agent

Answer 37

is used to prevent dispersed particles from from collecting together. Suspending agents are also used to increase the viscosity of liquids. Suspended agents do not allow particles to quickly settle out if solution, which ensures a uniform distribution of the medication throughout the dosage form

Question 38

Tare

Answer 38

To reset the balance to zero

Question 39

Triturate

Answer 39

To grind or mix dry powders or tablets in a mortar with a pestle to achieve smaller particles or uniform mixture

Question 40

Triutration

Answer 40

The process of pulverizing and comminuting subtanced to fine particles by rubbing or grinding them in a mortar with a pestle

Question 41

Vortex

Answer 41

A whorled arrangement, design, or pattern created by the spin bar and the magnetic stir function of the hot plate