Introduction to Dispensing, Compounding, and Pharmaceutics

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on dispensing, compounding, and pharmaceutics.

What is Pharmacy?

The science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines, linking health sciences with chemical sciences.

Who is a Pharmacist?

A licensed professional who prepares, compounds, and dispenses drugs upon prescription from a licensed practitioner.

What does a drug mean?

A substance used to treat, prevent, or diagnose illness, classified into OTC drugs, prescription drugs, and narcotic drugs.

Pharmaceutical dosage forms

The physical form in which a drug is produced and administered, containing the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and excipients.

Why do we need different pharmaceutical dosage forms?

To ensure accurate dosing, protect the drug, improve patient compliance, enable different routes of administration, and enhance solubility.

Quality requirements of a pharmaceutical product

Criteria including stability, microbial protection, uniformity of dosage units, acceptability, and appropriate packaging.

Routes of Administration

Methods of administering drugs including oral, sublingual, topical, parenteral, involuntarily (rectal, vaginal), and inhalational.

Types of pharmaceutical dosage forms

Categories based on route of administration, physical state, uses, and site of application.

Primary Packaging

Packaging that is in direct contact with the product, protecting it and supporting its use.

Secondary Packaging

Additional packaging materials that improve appearance and provide information but do not come in direct contact with the product.

Tamper-evident containers

Closed containers fitted with a device that indicates if the container has been opened.

What is a Prescription?

An order for medication issued by a licensed medical practitioner indicating specific medication and dosage.

Common Medication Errors

Mistakes occurring during prescribing, dispensing, or administration, including dosage errors and patient misidentification.

Allegation

A method used to calculate the mixing of two products of different strengths to achieve a desired intermediate strength.

What is Reconstitution?

The process of adding liquid to a dry powder medication to prepare it for use.

What are Preservatives?

Substances added to formulations to prevent microbial growth.

Advantages of Solutions in Pharmacy

Easier to swallow, immediate availability for absorption, flexible dosing, and often no need to shake the container.

Disadvantages of Solutions in Pharmacy

Less stable than solid forms, difficult to mask taste, bulky, and prone to breakage.

Expression of concentration

Ways to calculate and express the strength of a solution such as percentage and molarity.

Flow Rate Calculation

The speed at which an IV solution is delivered, expressed as volume per time (ml/min).

Types of Water used in Pharmaceuticals

Different types of water: potable, purified, water for injections, and aromatic waters used based on the preparation requirements.