powder base medicines

Question 1

Bulk powders

Answer 1

Bulk powders are several doses packed in one container.

Oral bulk powders: packed in a jar or vial, often dispersed in water, milk or sprinkled in food take.

Question 2

positive of bulk powders

Answer 2

very easy to take great for children, elderly and pets

Question 3

Wrapped powders

Answer 3

This is a single dose sealed in a small paper, foil or plastic bag. This is good because its more accurate. There is also better protection against water using this method.

Question 4

positives of wrapped powders

Answer 4

• good for patients who have difficulties swallowing tablets of capsules
• they are more stable than liquid medicines as there is less microbial growth and chemical degration
• good way to give a large dose
• faster dilution means faster action

Question 5

negatives for wrapped powders

Answer 5

• absorb water
• can dissolve during processing and storage
• can stick together (caking)
• has to be stored in dry conditions and be in suitable packaging
• poor mixing can lead to inaccurate dosage, powders can unmet during transportation
• poor flow leads to inaccurate and inconstant packing (size, shape, charge moisture effect flowability)

Question 6

how to solve mixing and separation issues

Answer 6

• equalise particle size
• mix equal parts of powders
• granulation (particles packed together to form granules) less separation and better flow eg. can also make tablets or capsules
• dry granulation: dry powders compressed by metal rollers
• wet granulation: powder is wetted with a solution of polymer binder

GRANULATION: means particles don’t separate

Question 7

capsules

Answer 7

• edible packages filled with a single dose unit
• has two parts called the body and the cap

Question 8

what can capsules be filled with

Answer 8

This can be filled with:

• powder
• granules
• small tablets
• combinations

Question 9

Positives: of HARD capsules

Answer 9

• easy to swallow
• Different sizes
• shell protects the powder to mask taste
• shell can be coloured for identification
• delayed release
• some not all can be opened
• easier to manufacture than tablets

Question 10

polymer

Answer 10

long molecules made of smaller molecules, can be natural or synthetic and used as excipients

Question 11

soft capsules

Answer 11

• not as common
• a shell made of gelatin water and plasticiser
• used for oil, liquids and semi solids
• usually larger but easier to swallow

Question 12

tablets definition and positives

Answer 12

-a single dose of compressed powder
-small, portable, convenient
-very stable (no water coating)
-shape and colour can give specific market identity

Question 13

how do tablets and capsules release drugs into the body

Answer 13

Tablet: disintegrant absorbed water tablets swells which breaks the tablet down into to smaller pieces so it can combine with gastrointestinal fluid

capsule: shell dissolves in water and the powder drug is released

Question 14

dispersible tablets

Answer 14

Dissolved in water before taking
or on the tongue without water
* Very quick acting
* Contain an effervescent mixture or are very thin porous tablets

Question 15

Immediate release tablets

Answer 15

-Conventional tablets
-Disintegrate and release drug in stomach
- Fast acting (<1h) if drug is quickly absorbe

Question 16

Delayed release (gastro-resistant)

Answer 16

Remain intact in the stomach and
disintegrate in the small intestine
* Used if drug is degraded in stomach or irritates the stomach
Image of a gastro-resistant tablet in the gastro-intestinal
* Coating is insoluble in acid (stomach) but soluble at neutral pH (intestine)
*

Question 17

what is the coating called to make something gastro resistant

Answer 17

• often called ‘enteric coating’
• also used to make gastro-resistant capsules

Question 18

Extended release

Answer 18

Slowly release drug in the GI tract over 8-24h
* Used if
* once a day dosing is required
* fast drug release causes side effects

• Tablets designed with either
• a coating that is insoluble but porous * a matrix that erodes slowly

Question 19

problems with powders

Answer 19

Powder ingredients might be coarse. This can lead to poor medicine stability or patient’s discomfort

Powder ingredients might have very different particle sizes. This can lead to separation

Question 20

what is geometric mixing

Answer 20

Grind* a slight excess of the ingredients with bigger particles
* Sieve* the ground powders
* Weigh the powders accurately
* Place the ingredient with the smaller volume in a mortar
* Add equal volumes of the other ingredients
* Using the pestle, mix gently until an even mixture is
obtained.
* Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all ingredients are incorporated

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