Chapter 4:Extemporaneous Prescription Compounding Flashcards
Directions for questions 1–3: Each question or incomplete
statement in this section can be correctly answered or
completed by one of the suggested answers or phrases.
Choose the best answer.
The following medication order is given to the pharmacist
by the physician.
Olive oil 60 mL
Vitamin A 60,000 U
Water 120 mL
Sig: 15 mL t.i.d.
1. Th e fi nal dosage form of this prescription will be
(A) a solution.
(B) an elixir.
(C) an emulsion.
(D) a suspension.
(E) a lotion.
(C) an emulsion.
- When preparing this prescription, the pharmacist
needs to add
(A) Tween 80.
(B) acacia.
(C) glycerin.
(D) alcohol.
(E) propylene glycol.
(B) acacia
- Which of the following caution labels should the
pharmacist affi x to the container when dispensing this
preparation?
(A) Do not refrigerate.
(B) Shake well.
(C) For external use only.
(D) No preservatives added.
(B) Shake well
For 1–3: Because olive oil and water are two immis-
cible liquids, their incorporation requires a two-phase
system in which one liquid is dispersed throughout
another liquid in the form of small droplets. To accom-
plish this, an emulsifying agent is necessary. Acacia is
the most suitable emulsifying agent when forming an
oil-in-water emulsion that is intended for internal use.
Emulsions are physically unstable, and they must be
protected against the eff ects of microbial contami-
nation and physical separation. Shaking before use
redistributes the two layers of emulsion. Because light,
air, and microorganisms also aff ect the stability of an
emulsion, preservatives can be added
Directions for questions 4–9: Each question or statement
in this section can be correctly answered or completed by
one or more of the suggested answers or phrases. Choose
the correct answer, A–E:
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
- Which statements about the following prescription are
correct?
Morphine 1 mg/mL
Flavored vehicle, q.s. a.d. 120 mL
Sig: 5 to 20 mg p.o. q
3 to 4 hrs p.r.n. pain
I. The amount of morphine needed is 240 mg.
II. Powdered morphine alkaloid should be used when
compounding this prescription.
III. The final dosage form of this prescription is a solution
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
n is a solution.
- Th e answer is B (III) [see III.C.3].
Th e concentration of morphine needed for the pre-
scription described in the question is 1 mg/mL, and
because 120 mL is the fi nal volume, 120 mg of mor-
phine is needed to compound this prescription. Mor-
phine alkaloid has poor solubility; therefore, one of the
salt forms should be used. Because morphine is dis-
solved in the vehicle, resulting in a liquid preparation,
the fi nal dosage form is a solution.
- When preparing the following prescription, the
pharmacist should
Podophyllum 5%
Salicylic acid 10%
Acetone 20%
Flexible collodion, a.d. 30 mL
Sig: Apply q h.s.
I. triturate 1.5 g of podophyllum with the 8 mL of acetone.
II. add 3 g of salicylic acid to the collodion with trituration.
III. affi x an “external use only” label to the container.
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
- Th e answer is B (III) [see III.C.1; III.C.5; III.D.3].
Calculating for the amount of each ingredient of the
prescription in the question requires 1.5 g of podo-
phyllum, 3 g of salicylic acid, and 6 mL of acetone. Th e
correct procedure would be to triturate the podophyl-
lum with the acetone, then add the triturated salicylic
acid to a calibrated bottle containing the podophyllum
and acetone. Flexible collodion is then added up to the
30-mL calibration. An “external use only” label should
be affi xed to the container.
- Which statements about the following prescription are
correct?
Sulfur 6 g
Purifi ed water
Camphor water, a.a. q.s. a.d. 60
I. Precipitated sulfur can be used to prepare this
prescription.
II. Th e sulfur can be triturated with glycerin before
mixing with other ingredients.
III. A “shake well” label should be affi xed to the bottle.
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
- Th e answer is E (I, II, and III) [see IV.B.2; IV.C.5;
IV.D.1–2].
Although precipitated sulfur can be used to prepare the
prescription described in the question, it is diffi cult to
triturate; therefore, it must fi rst be levigated with a suit-
able levigating agent (e.g., glycerin). All suspensions,
owing to their instability, require shaking before use to
redistribute the insoluble ingredients.
- Which statements about the following prescription are
correct?
Starch 10%
Menthol 1%
Camphor 2%
Calamine, q.s. a.d. 120
I. Th e powders should be blended together in a mortar,
using geometric dilution.
II. Th e prescription should be prepared by dissolving the
camphor in a suffi cient amount of 90% alcohol.
III. A eutectic mixture should be avoided.
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
- Th e answer is A (I) [see VI.C.3; VI.D.1].
Th e proper procedure for compounding the prescrip-
tion described in the question is to fi rst form a liquid
eutectic. Th is is done by triturating the menthol and
camphor together in a mortar. Th is eutectic is then
blended with the powdered starch and calamine, using
geometric dilution.
- When preparing the following prescription, the
pharmacist should
Salicylic acid 3 g
Sulfur ppt 7 g
Lanolin 10 g
White petrolatum 10 g
I. reduce the particle size of the powders, using a mortar
and pestle or using the pill tile with a spatula.
II. place on an ointment tile and levigate the ingredients,
using geometric dilution.
III. package the ointment in an ointment jar or tube.
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
- Th e answer is E (I, II, and III) [see IX.D.1–3; IX.E.1].
Th e proper procedure for preparing the prescription
given in the question is to reduce the particle size of
each powder and mix them together, using geomet-
ric dilution. Th is ensures the proper blending of the
powders. Next, this powdered mixture is incorporated,
geometrically, with the petrolatum. Th en, the lanolin is
added geometrically.
- An equal volume of air is injected when removing
drug solutions from
I. vials.
II. ampules.
III. syringes. - Th e answer is A (I) [see XI.E.2].
An equal volume of air must be injected when remov-
ing a drug solution from a vial. Th is is done to prevent
the formation of a vacuum within the vial. Th is prob-
lem does not occur with ampules and syringes contain-
ing drug solutions; therefore, it is unnecessary to inject
any air when removing them.
A if I only is correct
B if III only is correct
C if I and II are correct
D if II and III are correct
E if I, II, and III are correct
- Th e answer is A (I) [see XI.E.2].
An equal volume of air must be injected when remov-
ing a drug solution from a vial. Th is is done to prevent
the formation of a vacuum within the vial. Th is prob-
lem does not occur with ampules and syringes contain-
ing drug solutions; therefore, it is unnecessary to inject
any air when removing them.
