Download Capsules Tablets and Powders

Capsules, Tablets, and Powders
Practicum in Pharmacy Technician
Introduction
› Capsules, tablets, and powders are among the most common
dosage forms.
› Compounding can customize medications to meet individual
patient requirements while still providing an easy and
convenient route of administration.
Types and Definitions
› Tablets – solid dosage form that may be administered orally,
sublingually, buccally, vaginally, or as an implant or pellet
under the skin.
› Compressed Tablet - is the most prescribed dosage form.
› This is because it is convenient, portable, stable, and easy to
administer.
› This disadvantage of tablets is that they are available in fixed
dosage strengths and combinations.
Types and Definitions
› Different Forms of tablets that can be compounded:
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Compressed – are designed to be swallowed whole
Sublingual – placed under the tongue
Buccal – placed in the cheek pouch to dissolve
Triturates – which dissolve in body fluids
Effervescent – which are submersed in a liquid to dissolve
Implants or pellets – are imbedded in the body subcutaneously.
Composition and Ingredients
› Tablets are generally prepared by using the active ingredient
along with excipients such as lactose, sucrose, dextrose,
mannitol, or a combination of sugars that form an appropriate
base.
Preparation and Compounding Techniques
› Tablets are prepared using a mold of the appropriate size for
the intended dosage form and use.
› Calibrating the mold is done prior to compounding a specific
formula, since each base will have a different capacity.
› This is done by preparing a batch of the base used in the
formula.
› The batch is weighed and divided by the total number of
tablets to get the average weight of each tablet.
› This is used when calculating the formula.
Preparation and Compounding Techniques
› The active ingredient is triturated with eth
tablet base using geometric dilution.
› When the powders are combined, the mixture
is the dampened to a play dough consistency so
that it will adhere to the mold.
› The mixture is added to the mold using a hard
rubber spatula applying pressure to pack each
cavity.
› Must work quickly and efficiently so the
mixture does not dry.
› Apply the top plate of the mold and allow to
dry.
Types and Definitions
› Capsules – solid dosage form in which the active ingredient
and excipients are enclosed in either a soft or hard gelatin
shell.
› The gelatin shell will dissolve in the stomach to release the
medication.
› Hardshell – contain powders
› Softshell – contain liquids
› May contain more than one active ingredient
Types and Definitions
› Benefits of Capsules:
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Pharmaceutical elegance
Convenience
Ease of administration
Taste concealment
Can easily be compounded
Can contain several medications in one
Can contain the exact dose for patient needs
Enhances compliance
Cost effective
Beneficial to those with allergies to excipients
Composition and Ingredients
› The gelatin shell used in capsules is made of two parts.
– Body – longer end that fits into the shorter end
– Cap – shorter end designed to fit over the base
› Capsules come in 8 different sizes, with the smallest being #5
and largest being #000
Composition and Ingredients
› Colored capsules are used to designate different medications
or different strengths of the same medication.
› Coloring agent may be added to the powders to be
encapsulated in a clear shell.
› The relationship between the active ingredient and the
necessary excipients will vary with each compounded capsule
prescription.
Preparation and Compounding Techniques
› The active ingredients and excipients needed to form the
capsule may be encapsulated by hand or using a capsule
machine.
› Which method is best will be determined by several factors:
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Quantity being prepared
Density of the powder(s)
The ease at which the powders flow
Static electricity
Amount of powder being encapsulated
Preparation and Compounding Techniques
› Powder ingredients should be reduced in particle size using a
mortar and pestle.
› After the particle size has been reduced, the ingredients
should be mixed together using geometric dilution.
› Geometric dilution – start with the ingredient of the smallest
amount and double the portion by adding the additional
ingredients in order of quantity.
› This process ensures even distribution of the active ingredient
throughout the final mixture.
Preparation and Compounding Techniques
› Hand Filling
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Powder is poured onto a clean hard surface.
Powder is packed using the flat side of a spatula.
The body (long end) of the capsule is pushed into the powder.
Can be helpful to rotate the body a quarter of a turn as it comes in
contact with the surface below.
– Capsules are weighed as they are being filled.
– An error rate of 10 percent or less is acceptable
Types and Definitions
› Powders – are a solid dosage form made form a thoroughly
blended mixture of one or more active ingredients and
excipients.
› Powders can be used either internally or externally.
› Internal powders include those for reconstitution such as an
oral antibiotic, Those to be inhaled through the nose for
migraines, or those to be insulated into an ear or nasal
passage for infection.
› External powders included those for dusting a compromised
area of the skin such as an antifungal.
› Powder dosage forms are more common in veterinary
medicine.
Preparation and Compounding Techniques
› The particle size of the active ingredient and any excipients
must be reduced so that all the particles of each ingredient
are of the same size.
› To ensure this, each powder should be passed through a size
100 mesh sieve or triturated using a mortar and pestle or an
electric blender.
› Which method is used will depend on the physical
characteristics of each ingredient.
› It is critical to use geometric dilution to insure the active
ingredient is dispersed throughout.
› When working with fine powders, the preparer may choose to
wear a mask and googles to prevent inhalation.