Chapters 18, 22 & 30 Viscosity-inducing Agents, Ointment Bases and Ointments, Creams, Gels, and Pastes Chapter 18 (Viscosity-inducing Agents) 1. What is Carbomer NF? 2. Carbomer is commonly referred to as. 3. With regards to the various grades of Carbomer available, what does the suffix P indicate? 4. How are Carbomers supplied? 5. Describe how to prepare a liquid dispersion using Carbomer. 6. How are liquid Carbomer dispersions gelled? 7. What is Triethanolamine (Trolamine )? 8. What is the primary factor in determining the viscosity of Carbomer gels? 1
9. What is the recommended final ph for a Carbomer gel preparation? 10. What is one way to increase the viscosity of Carbomer gel preparations? 11. What is one way to decrease the viscosity of Carbomer gel preparations? 12. How should Carbomer gel preparations be stored? 13. What is the recommended concentration of Carbomer when used as a gelling agent? 14. What is Poloxamer NF? 15. Poloxamer NF is commonly known as. 16. What type of Poloxamer is most frequently used in prescription compounding? What is its trade name? 17. What type of gels do Poloxamers form? 2
18. At what concentration are Poloxamer gels prepared? 19. What is the meaning of thermoreversable? 20. Poloxamer gels can experience compatibility problems with what type of chemicals? 21. Describe the preparation of a Poloxamer gel. 22. How are Poloxamer gels used? Chapter 22 (Ointment Bases) 1. Define Ointments 2. Ointment bases are grouped into four general classes. What are they? d. 3. What is a Cream? 3
4. Define the term Emollient 5. Define the term Protective or Protectant 6. What is the difference between Occlusive and Humectant 7. Hydrocarbon bases are also known as. 8. What is the primary difference between the characteristics of a hydrocarbon base and an anhydrous absorption base? 9. Give two examples of hydrocarbon ointment bases. 10. Give three examples of anhydrous absorption bases. 11. What is the primary difference between the characteristics of an anhydrous absorption base and a water-in-oil emulsion absorption base? 12. Give three examples of water-in-oil emulsion absorption bases. 4
13. What type of emulsion are water-removable bases? What term is typically used to define them? 14. List three characteristic differences between the water-removable bases and the hydrocarbon and absorption bases. 15. List three examples of water-removable bases. 16. What is the one primary characteristic difference between the water-soluble bases and the water-removable bases 17. List an example of a water-soluble base. 18. What is a Paste? Chapter 30 (Ointments & Creams ) 1. List three uses for Ointments and Creams... 2. What three criteria should be considered when selecting a base? 5
3. What must a pharmacist do if a compound prescription order specifies a particular ointment base, yet pharmaceutically a different base is warranted or would be more appropriate? 4. How much product might conceivably be lost during the compounding of an ointment or cream? In what two ways might a pharmacist deal with the loss of product incurred when compounding an ointment or cream? 5. Define the term Levigation 6. Why do we levigate? 7. Assuming that a particular solid ingredient is available as a fine powder, a granule or a crystal, in general which form would you select for incorporating into a compounded ointment or cream? Why? 8. In what instances would it be appropriate not to use a levigating agent? 9. List four commonly used levigating agents d. 6
10. Describe the General Rule for selecting a levigating agent. 11. Describe the General Rule for determining what amount of levigating agent you should use. 12. In certain instances, could a small amount of the base you are using be melted and used as a levigating agent? 13. Are the following products miscible, Yes or No? Alcohol and Mineral Oil? Glycerin and Alcohol? Alcohol and Water? d. Glycerin and Mineral Oil? e. Glycerin and Water? 14. Describe Dissolution as it relates to incorporating solid ingredients into cream or ointment bases. 15. What type of ointment base must be used if a compounded formulation calls for the incorporation of a liquid? 16. Describe the General Rule for determining what amount of solvent you should use when incorporating a solvent into a particular ointment base. 7
17. What three types of stability are we trying to achieve when compounding creams and ointments? 18. What do all emulsion ointment bases, but particularly oil-in-water emulsion bases, require with regards to stability? 19. What is the density of heavy mineral oil vs- light mineral oil? Is this a significant difference? 20. What is the density of glycerin? 21. For what type of ointment bases would mineral oil be an appropriate levigating agent? 22. For what type of ointment bases would glycerin be an appropriate levigating agent? 23. What is a Lotion? (See page 26.1) How does a lotion differ from a cream or ointment? 8
24. In general, if you were asked to incorporate a solid into a commercially available lotion such as Cetaphil, would you select a levigating agent such as one listed in Table 30.1, or would you first consider using the lotion itself as a means of levigating the solid? 9