Module 4B: Ointments

True or False: Ointments are liquid preparations intended for internal use.

False; semisolid preparations for external use

True or False: Group 1 (oleaginous) ointment bases contain 100% lipophilic substances.

true

True or False: Group 2 ointment bases are oil in water emulsions.

False; They are water in oil, group 3 is oil in water

What is another name for group 2 ointment bases?

absorption base

What is another name for group 3 ointment bases?

water-removable base

What is another name for group 4 ointment bases?

water-soluble base

What base is good for eyes or water sensitive drugs?

oleaginous bases

True or False: Oleaginous bases should be used for wet skin conditions.

False; dry skin conditions, they trap in moisture and prevent drainage of fluids

What are four examples of oleaginous bases?

yellow petrolatum (vaseline), white petrolatum, yellow ointment, white ointment

What is added to petroleum jelly to make yellow ointment and what is the function of this ingredient?

beeswax acts as a stiffening agent

What is another name for liquid petrolatum?

mineral oil

What can be used as a levigating agent for group 1 ointment bases?

mineral oil

What are the two subtypes of absorption bases and what is the difference between them?

1)emulsifiable bases- have no water and allow incorporation of aqueous solutions 2)emulsified bases- contain water and allow addition of small amounts of aqueous solutions

True or False: Group 2 ointment bases are difficult to wash off with water.

true

How can aqueous solutions be incorporated into oleaginous bases?

The solution can be mixed with a group 2 base to form a w/o emulsion which can then be added to the group 1 base

Give two examples of emulsifiable bases.

hydrophilic petrolatum (aquaphor), anhydrous lanolin

What emulsifier is used in hydrophilic petrolatum?

cholesterol

What is another name for anhydrous lanolin?

refined wool fat

Give two examples of emulsified bases.

lanolin (hydrous wool fat), cold cream

How is the emulsifier made in cold cream?

cetyl esters wax and white wax have free fatty acids that react with sodium borate to form the sodium salt of FFA which acts as the emulsifier

What drugs cannot be used in cold cream and why?

acidic drugs may react with the sodium soap, splitting the emulsion

True or False: Water-removable ointment bases can be washed off with water.

true

Why are water-removable bases good for wet skin conditions?

the outside water mixes with serous discharge from the skin which then evaporates upon application

What two additional things are needed for water-removable bases?

antimicrobial preservatives and humectants

What is a humectant?

a substance that holds onto outside water and does not let it evaporate from the container

True or False: A humectant is used because we don't want the water phase of group 3 bases to evaporate on the skin.

false; it's used to prevent evaporation in the container

What are three examples of water-removable bases?

hydrophilic ointment, vanishing cream, dermabase cream

What is the emulsifier used in hydrophilic ointment bases?

sodium lauryl sulfate

What substances can act as humectants?

hygroscopic substances like glycerin, PEG, propylene glycol, sorbitol (the sisters)

True or False: Aqueous drug solutions can be used in water-soluble ointment bases.

False; PEG is destroyed in the presence of water therefore these bases are used to incorporate non-aqueous or solid substances

True or False: An antimicrobial preservative is needed in water-soluble ointment bases.

false; there is only PEG in this base

How can a stiffer water-soluble ointment be achieved?

use more solid PEG (ex: PEG 3350) than liquid PEG

What is an adverse effect of water-soluble bases?

PEG can dehydrate the skin

What group is the most stable ointment base? Least stable?

Most stable- 1; least stable- 3

Why is a minimal number of ingredients ideal for an ointment base?

to prevent potential interactions with the drug

What are epidermic ointments? Give an example.

ointments that do not penetrate the skin like Group 1 bases

What are endodermic ointments? Give an example.

ointments that possess some power of penetration into deeper layers of the skin like Group 2 bases

What are diadermic ointments? Give an example.

ointments that penetrate skin and allow better absorption of the drug like groups 3 and 4

What type of ointments may show systemic effects?

diadermic ointments

What are two ointment preparation methods?

incorporation and fusion

Which ointment preparation method used heat?

fusion

True or False: Stearyl alcohol is a liquid.

False; solid

What are some preservatives used in ointments?

parabens, phenols, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, quaternary ammonium salts

Why are tubes preferred over jars for ointment storage?

convenient for patient, less mess, less exposed to air, more stable

A steel spatula should not be used with ointments containing what?

free acid and iodine (also fyi- mercury and tannin)

True or False: The ointment should be touching the cap while it is in the container.

False

True or False: Both ointments and jars are measured in volume.

False; ointment measured in weight

Why must drug powders in opthalmic ointments be micronized?

they must be very small to be comfortable in the eye

True or False: All creams are ointments, but not all ointments are creams.

true

What is a cream?

a viscous liquid or semisolid emulsion (can be group 2 or 3) used as an emollient or medicated application

True or False: Creams need humectants.

true, group 3 creams need humectants

What is an advantage to creams?

easier to spread

What is the difference between ointments and pastes?

pastes are much stiffer since they have a large percentage of solid material, more absorptive, and less greasy

What is used as the levigating agent in pastes?

a portion of the base itself rather than liquid

True ro False: Pastes are used for dry skin conditions.

False; wet skin, they're used to absorb serous secretions

Where should pastes not be applied?

hairy parts of the body

What should be used as a solid to increase stiffness in pastes?

inert excipients like starch

What is another name for zinc oxide paste and its purpose?

Lassar's plain zinc paste; astringent, protectant, and vehicle for other drugs

What are lotions?

liquid preparations for external application to skin that contain insoluble powders suspended with suspending agents

What is a benefit to the fluidity of lotions?

allows quick and uniform distribution over a large surface area, lotion dries out after applying leaving coat of the drug

What is the purpose of phenol in phenolated calamine lotion?

it enhances the antipruritic activity

Oil soluble drug powders can be used in which ointment bases?

groups 3 and 4

Water soluble drug powders can be used in which ointment bases?

groups 1, 2, 3

Aqueous drug solutions can be used in which ointment bases?

groups 2 and 3