LEARNING ACTIVITY for UNIT No.

Compound Effervescent Powders

Formula Quantity Computed quantity

Potassium Sodium Tartrate 90g 6.16g

Sodium Bicarbonate 30g 2.05g

Tartaric acid 26g 1.78g

To make 10g

Computation:

1. Potassium Sodium Tartrate

90 g
×10 g=6.16 g
146 g

2. Sodium Bicarbonat

30 g
×10 g=2.05 g
146 g

3. Tartar acid

26 g
×10 g=1.78 g
146 g
Make a label for Compound effervescent powders

QUESTIONS

1.Enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of using powders.

Advantages of powders:

i) Powder form is the most versatile and convenient to prescribe, compound and administer.

ii) A physician has the option to deviate from the conventional dose of a medicament

according to the requirement of the patient.

iii) Powders are stable and do not enter into reaction in solid state, lesser difficulties are

experienced in compounding them together,

iv) It is possible to reduce them in the desired particle size range and thus facilitate rapid

absorption.

v) Less incompatibility as compared to liquid dosage form.

vi) Powders are in the form of small particles; they offer a large surface area and are rapidly

dissolved n the gastrointestinal (GI) tract minimizing the problems of local irritation. Drugs

that have to be given in bulk can be best administered in powder form by mixing them with

foods or drinks.

vii) Whenever effervescence is desired, accurate quantities of the two reacting powders are

mixed with water.

viii) It is difficult for children and infants to swallow tablets and capsules and under such

circumstances drugs may be administered in powder form making them palatable by mixing

with milk, fruit juice or honey.

ix) Manufacturing of powder is economic hence product cost is quite economic as compare to

other dosage form.

Disadvantages of Powder

i) As compared to other dosage forms, powders are time consuming to compound.

ii) Volatile, hygroscopic, oxidizing and deliquescent drugs create obvious difficulties when

dispensed as powders.

iii) Dose inaccuracy.

 2. Give the different types of powder papers.

 Vegetable parchment, a thin semi-opaque moisture-resistant paper.

 White bond, an opaque paper with no moisture-resistant properties.
 Glassine, a glazed, transparent moisture-resistant paper.
 Waxed(Parrafin) a transparent waterproof paper.