Vocab & Verbs
The process of grinding a powder into finer particles using a mortar and pestle.
Trituration
1 tsp PO BID x 10 days. The total volume needed for this prescription.
100 mL (5mL x 2 x 10)
The correct technique for mixing two ingredients of unequal quantities (starting with the smallest first).
Geometric Dilution
The USP chapter that covers Non-Sterile Compounding.
USP <795>
Compounding a medication for an individual patient based on a doctor's prescription is different from this mass-production process.
Manufacturing
The curved surface of a liquid in a graduated cylinder; you must always read the bottom of this curve.
Meniscus
The formula used to solve for Powder Volume.
Final Volume - Diluent Volume = Powder Volume
True or False: You should hold a graduated cylinder at eye level to read the volume accurately.
True
The USP chapter that covers Sterile Compounding.
USP <797>
True or False: Tap water is acceptable for reconstituting oral antibiotics
False (Must use distilled or purified water)
The liquid (usually sterile water) added to a powder to dissolve it.
Diluent
A bottle requires 68 mL of water to make 100 mL of suspension. This is the Powder Volume.
32 mL (100 - 68)
When measuring 4 mL of liquid, this size syringe or cylinder is the most accurate choice.
5 mL or 10 mL cylinder/syringe (Always choose the smallest device that holds the required volume)
SDS stands for this; it contains safety info on chemicals.
Safety Data Sheet
A suspension always requires this auxiliary label.
Shake Well
Creating a paste by mixing a powder with a small amount of liquid (wetting agent) before adding the base.
Levigation
You need to make 240 mL of a 2% solution. This is how many grams of active ingredient you need.
4.8 grams (2g/100mL = Xg/240mL)
This is the expiration timeline for most reconstituted oral antibiotics (like Amoxicillin) once water is added.
10 to 14 days
This record is the "recipe" used to compound a preparation every time it is made.
Master Formulation Record
This piece of equipment is used to weigh powders.
Class A Balance (or Electronic Balance)
This type of mortar is preferred for mixing liquids and semisolids because it is non-porous.
Glass Mortar
A patient takes 3 mL of medication QID. This bottle size (100mL or 150mL) is required for a 10-day supply.
150 mL (3mL x 4 x 10 = 120mL needed, so 100mL is too small)
In Geometric Dilution, this is the ingredient you place in the mortar first.
The ingredient with the smallest quantity (or most potent drug)
This is the date after which a compounded preparation should not be used.
Beyond-Use Date (BUD)
The fine powder that floats in the air during crushing, which can be hazardous if inhaled.
Dust (or Particulate Matter)