541 - Drug Delivery Systems Lab I - Exam Ii - From Powders To Capsules

Front 1

What are five advantages of solid dosage forms?

Back 1

1) Drugs and chemicals are most stable as dry solids; 2) Because they are dry & compact, they are more easily packaged, transported, administered, and stored; 3) Objectionable taste can be concealed by enclosing the solid drug in capsules or coated tablets; 4) Accurate dosing is easier to achieve; 5) Controlled release is much easier to achieve.

Front 2

Describe the Mesh Opening Size and Mesh Size Number of differing particle sizes.

Back 2

Descriptive Term: Mesh Opening Size [Mesh Size Number]
Very Coarse: >1000 Microns [2 to 10]
Coarse: 355 to 1000 Microns [20 to 40]
Moderately Coarse: 180 to 355 Microns [40 to 80]
Fine: 125 to 180 Microns [80 to 120]
Very Fine: 90 to 125 Microns [120 to 200]
Note that particle size is inversely proportional to Mesh Size Number! In other words, the smaller the particle, the larger the Mesh Size Number, and vice versa.

Front 3

What are the desired properties of powders?

Back 3

Particle size and free flowing

Front 4

Define "Powders"

Back 4

Powders are intimate mixtures of dry, finely divided drugs and/or chemicals that may be intended for internal (Oral Powders) or external (Topical Powders) use (USP)

Front 5

Define "Efflorescent Powders"

Back 5

Efflorescent Powders are drugs or chemicals that contain water of hydration, which may be released when the powders are manipulated, or when they are stored under conditions of relatively low humidity.

Front 6

List Five Examples of Efflorescent Powders

Back 6

Caffeine
Citric Acid
Cocaine
Codeine
Codeine Phosphate

Front 7

What are three problems pertaining to Efflorescent Powders?

Back 7

1) Water liberated when the drug or chemical is triturated may cause the powders to become damp or pasty, 2) If water is released to the atmosphere because of low relative humidity, the drug loses its crystallinity and becomes powdery, 3) If water of hydration is given off, a given weight of the resulting powder no longer contains the same amount of the drug.

Front 8

Describe two strategies for handling Efflorescent Powders.

Back 8

1) Always store and dispense these powders in airtight containers. 2) The anhydrous form of the drug may be substituted for the hydrate, but be sure to make appropriate dose corrections.

Front 9

What two types of powders adsorb water?

Back 9

Hygroscopic Powders & Deliquescent Powders

Front 10

What are four examples of hygroscopic and deliquescent drugs?

Back 10

1) Phenobarbital Sodium, 2) Ephedrine Sulfate, 3) Hyoscyamine HBr, and 4) Zinc Chloride

Front 11

Define "Hygroscopic Powders."

Back 11

Hygroscopic Powders are solid drugs or chemicals that readily absorb moisture from the air.

Front 12

Define "Deliquescent Powders."

Back 12

Deliquescent Powders are hygroscopic powders capable of absorbing sufficient moisture from the air to dissolve and form a solution.

Front 13

Benefit of Effervescent Granulations

Back 13

Good way to overcome bad taste

Front 14

How do you handle powders that adsorb water?

Back 14

1) Dispense in a tight container, 2) Counsel patient to store the product in a low humidity environment, and 3) Add a powdered ingredient to the formulation that will absorb the water otherwise attracted to the problem solid (Ex: Light MagOx).

Front 15

What is a "Eutectic Mixture?"

Back 15

A Eutectic Mixture is one of two or more solid substances that may liquify when intimately mixed at ambient room tempature.

Front 16

On what five factors does the liquification of a Eutectic Mixture depend?

Back 16

1) Ambient room temp; 2) Original melting points of each substance; 3) Proportions in which the substances are mixed; 4) Extent and degree of pressure used in trituration; and 5) Presence of other ingredients, which may sorb any liquid form.

[Quick Vobabulary Lesson of the Day: "Sorb" means to gather on a surface either by absorption, adsorption, or a combination of these two processes (Dictionary.com).]

Front 17

What are six unique advantages of powders?

Back 17

1) Each dose can be formulated to contain a different amount of active drug; 2) Can be easily administered to infants, and young children, incapable of swallowing capsules or tablets; 3) Rapid onset of action, since disintegration is not required; 4) Can be applied to many body cavities (ears, nose, tooth socket, throat, etc.); 5) Drugs tend to be the most stable as a solid; and 6) Can be made into many different dosage formulations.

Front 18

What are the six different dosage formulations into which powders can be made?

Back 18

1) Capsules, 2) Tablets, 3) Powders for Reconstituion, 4) Dusting Powders, 5) Bulk Powders, and 6) Powders for Inhalation.

Front 19

What is "Geometric Dilution?"

Back 19

Geometric Dilution is the most efficient process for optimally blending two or more powder ingredient of unequal quantities. The process begins with the uniform blending of the smallest quantity with a relatively equal amount of the larger quantity. The resulting blend is again mixed with a relatively equal amount of the larger quantity, and this process is repeated until all quantities of each ingredient are uniformly incorporated.

Front 20

What is "Comminution?"

Back 20

Comminution is the process of particle size reduction.

Front 21

What is "Pulverization?"

Back 21

Pulverization is the process of crushing very large, rough particles.

Front 22

What is "Pulverization by Intervention?"

Back 22

Pulverization by Intervention is a process whereby a coarse powder is dissolved in a volatile solvent, such as ethanol or acetone, and the resulting solution is rapidly evaporated to leave a fine, powdered precipitate.

Front 23

What is "Levigation?"

Back 23

Levigation is a process of reducing the particle size of a powder by triturating it in a mortar and pestle, or by spatulating it on an ointment slab with a small amount of a liquid in which it is not soluble.

Front 24

When is Levigation used?

Back 24

Levigation is used when incorporating solids into ointments, pastes, and gels.

Front 25

Define "Spatulation"

Back 25

Spatulation is the process of mixing powders on an ointment slab or pad using a spatula. [Spatulation does not reduce the particle size!]

Front 26

Define "Blending"

Back 26

Spatulation, there is no particle size reduction, so the powders to be mixed must be fine and of uniform size

Front 27

What is "Trituration?"

Back 27

Tituration is the preferred method of blending, under most circumstances, due to its intimate mixing results. It should always be used when making mixtures that contain small quantities of potent drugs. [Tituration blends AND reduces particle size!]

Front 28

Define "Bulk Powders"

Back 28

Bulk Powders are nonpotent formulations that can be dosed with acceptable accuracy and safety using measuring devices such as the teaspoon, cup, or the insufflator.

Front 29

As a dosage form, what are the common uses of bulk powders?

Back 29

Common uses of orally administered bulk powders include antacids, dietary supplements, laxatives, and a few analgesics. Many bulk powders are used topically.

Front 30

What are "Dusting Powders?"

Back 30

Dusting Powders are fine, medicinal, bulk powders intended to be dusted on the skin by a means of sifter-top containers.

Front 31

What are "Insufflations?"

Back 31

Insufflations are extremely fine powders formulated for administration into body cavities.

Front 32

How do you administer an insufflation?

Back 32

Place powder in the insufflator and when the bulb is squeezed, the air current carriers the fine particles through the nozzle to the region for which the medication is intended.

Front 33

What size mesh sieve must all extemporaneously compounded insufflations pass through?

Back 33

100 mesh sieve

Front 34

What are "Powder Sprays?"

Back 34

Powder Sprays are powders dispensed under pressure in an aerosol container for uniform and targeted delivery at the desired site of application.

Front 35

What are the requirements for the particle size of a powder spray and for what two reasons do they matter?

Back 35

The powder particles must be within a definitive size range, not exceeding 50 microns at most, to prevent valve orfice clogging and to facilitate uniform application.

Front 36

What are "Divided Powders?"

Back 36

Divided Powders are single doses of powdered medicinals that are individually wrapped in cellophane, metallic foil, or paper.

Front 37

What are the alternate terms for Divided Powders?

Back 37

1) Chartulae, 2) Charts, and 3) Powder Papers

Front 38

What are three disadvantages of powder papers over polybags?

Back 38

1) Time consuming preparation, 2) Poor moisture barriers, and 3) Failure to meet safety packaging regulations.

Front 39

List four disadvantages or limitations of Capsules.

Back 39

1) They are easily tampered with, 2) They are subject to the effects of relative humidity and to microbial contamination, 3) They may be difficult for some people to swallow, and 4) They are more expensive (commercially)

Front 40

What are Capsules?

Back 40

Capsules are solid dosage forms in which the drug is enclosed within either a hard or a soft soluble container or 'shell.'

Front 41

Of what are capsule shells usually made? What other substances are suitable for making capsule shells?

Back 41

Capsule shells are usually made of gelatin; however, they may also be made from starch or "other suitable substances."

Front 42

List three types of materials that may be dispensed in capsules.

Back 42

Dry powders, semi-solids, and liquids that do not dissolve gelatin may be encapsulated.

Front 43

Capsules account for what percentage of prescriptions dispensed?

Back 43

20%

Front 44

Describe how capsule sizing (000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) relates to the volume. In other words, which of these sizes contains the largest volume?

Back 44

The capsule size number is inversely correlated with the volume it contains. In other words, with respect to the volume they contain 000 > 00 > 0 > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5. This is to say, 5 is the smallest of these capsules.

Front 45

List five advantages of Capsules.

Back 45

1) They may be used to mask the unpleasant tastes, aromas, or appearance of a drug, 2) They allow powders to be dispensed in an uncompressed form, facilitating quicker dissolution and absorption than tablets, 3) They offer the pharmacist versitility to prepare any dose desired for a variety of administration routes (e.g. oral, inhalation, rectal, or to be diluted for vaginal, rectal, oral, or topical use), 4) For some people, they may be easier to swallow than tablets, and 5) They can be made to alter the release rate of the drug.

Front 46

How does the popularity of capsules compare with tablets?

Back 46

Capsules are generally less popular than tablets.

Front 47

For what two specific drug properties are capsules valued as a practical alternative to tablets?

Back 47

Poor Drug Compression Properties and High Dosage Required

Front 48

Which dosage form, capsules or tablets, is larger?

Back 48

Capsules are larger than tablets.

Front 49

What is a predominant safety concern related to the use of hard capsules?

Back 49

The potential for tampering.

Front 50

For what two reasons is the traditional use of gelatin capsules under question?

Back 50

1) Formaldehyde-Induced Cross Linking & 2) Bovine Sources of Gelatin [Risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)]

Front 51

List the four types of ingredients in a typical Hard Capsule formulation.

Back 51

1) API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient), 2) Diluent (lactose), 3) Glidant (silica), and 4) Lubricant (magnesium stearate)

Front 52

List two Hard Capsule alternatives to Gelatin.

Back 52

1) Pullulan (a water soluble polysaccharide) [NPcaps made by Capsugel], and 2) HPMC (a water soluble polymer) [Vcaps made by Capsugel]

Front 53

List three capsule quality control criteria.

Back 53

1) Uniformity, 2) Extent of Fill, and 3) Locked

Front 54

What is the most common diluent utilized in capsules?

Back 54

Lactose

Front 55

Name a free flowing powder classifed by the NF as a tablet disintegrant and a diluent for tablets and capsules.

Back 55

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Front 56

What limitation is associated with the use of Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and other gum powders, as a capsule formulation ingredient?

Back 56

It may change the dissolution and absorption characteristics of the drug.