1-5
API
Active pharmaceutical ingredient - any substance in a compounded preparation that confers pharmacological activity
Class III Prescription Balance
a two-pan balance used to weigh material (between 120 mg and 120 g) with a sensitivity rating of +/- 6 mg; also known as a Class A prescription balance
Compounding
the process of preparing a medication for an individual patient from bulk ingredients according to a prescription from a licensed prescriber
Forceps
a stainless steel pincher instrument like a large tweezer used to pick up small objects, such as pharmacy weights
Hs
At bedtime
Agglomerations
clusters, lumps, clumps, or globs of ingredients in a liquid, semiliquid, or powdered vehicle, which are undesired in compounding
Comminution
the act of reducing a substance to small, fine particles using particle-reducing techniques like trituration, levigation, and pulverization
Compounding Record
a printout for a specific patient, including the amounts or weights of all ingredients with national drug code calculations and instructions for compounding; used by the technician to document a compounded medication for a patient
Extemporaneous Compounding
compounding products that are done for a specific patient's immediate need but not commercially available; another name for nonsterile compounding in a community pharmacy
Qd
Once daily
autoclave
a device that generates heat and pressure to sterilize objects, instruments and measuring vessels and devices
Component
An ingredient in a compounded product
Dilutent
an inactive ingredient that is added to the active drug in compounding a tablet, capsule, solution, or topical formulation
Geometric Dilution Method
a process that uses a mortar and pestle to gradually combine several active ingredients (drugs) with inactive ingredients (diluent) to produce a more homogenous product
Prn
as needed
BUD
Beyond use date - the date after which a drug should not be used once in has been removed from the intact container
Compounded preparation
patient-specific medication prepared on-site from individual ingredients, often by a technician under the direct supervision of the pharmacist
Emollient
an ointment base commercially available from a wholesaler or pharmacy compounding vender
Graduated cylinder
a flask used for accurately measuring liquids
gtts
Drops
Blending
the act of combining two substances by using non grinding techniques such as spatulation, sifting, and tumbling
Compounded Sterile Preparation
a medication for an individual patient from bulk ingredients according to a prescription from a licensed prescriber
Excipients
inactive ingredient
Mortar and pestle
equipment used for mixing and grinding pharmaceutical ingredients
Q4h
Every 4 hours