Extemporaneous Dispensing Workshop

Question 1

• What does ‘ex tempore’ mean in Latin?

A. Made in a hurry
B. Made straight away
C. On the spur of the moment
D. Time flies

Answer 1

C. On the spur of the moment

Question 2

• Which is the safest medicine to dispense using the hierarchy of risk?

A. Off-label use of UK licenced medicine
B. Imported product not licenced in country of origin
C. Extemporaneously dispensed medicine
D. Licensed UK medicine

Answer 2

D. Licensed UK medicine

Question 3

• Which of the following are considered good
practice when recording the production of an
extemporaneously dispensed medicine?

A. The formula used
B. The quantities of each ingredients needed
C. The source of ingredients
D. Batch numbers and expiry dates of ingredients
E. Use by date of the prepared product

Answer 3

A. The formula used
B. The quantities of each ingredients needed
C. The source of ingredients
D. Batch numbers and expiry dates of ingredients
E. Use by date of the prepared product

Question 4

• Which of the following do not need to be
printed on the label of an official formula
product?
A. Name of the patient
B. Directions for use
C. KOORASOC
D. ‘Do not use after’ or ‘Date of expiry’
E. Quantitative particulars of the formula

Answer 4

E. Quantitative particulars of the formula

Question 5

Solubility of common extemp ingredients (Martindale)

• Chloroform

Answer 5

slightly soluble in water,

miscible in dehydrated alcohol (Martindale)

Question 6

Solubility of common extemp ingredients (Martindale) • Levomenthol (menthol crystals)
–

Answer 6

Ph. Eur. 8 (Levomenthol). It occurs as colourless, acicular or prismatic shiny crystals. M.p. about 43 degrees. Practically insoluble in water; very soluble in alcohol and in petroleum spirit; freely soluble in fatty oils and in liquid paraffin; very slightly soluble in glycerol.

Ph. Eur. 8 (Menthol, Racemic; Racementhol BP 2015). It occurs as colourless, acicular or prismatic shiny crystals or as a free-flowing or agglomerated crystalline powder. M.p. about 34 degrees. Practically insoluble in water; very soluble in alcohol and in petroleum spirit; freely soluble in fatty oils and in liquid paraffin; very slightly soluble in glycerol.

Question 7

Citric acid (anhydrous)

Answer 7

Very soluble in water;

freely soluble in alcohol. Martindale

Question 8

Citric acid monohydrate

Answer 8

Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20°C: 59.2 therefore freely soluble

Question 9

Copper sulphate (anhydrous)

Answer 9

Freely soluble in water;
practically insoluble in alcohol;
slightly soluble in methyl alcohol

Question 10

Ferrous sulphate (dried)

Answer 10

Slowly but freely soluble in water,
very soluble in boiling water;
practically insoluble in alcohol