Pharmaceutical Powder

Powders
Powders are the solid dosage form
of medicament which are meant for
internal and external use . They are
available in crystalline or amorphous
form.
Although the use of medicated
powders in therapeutics is limited,
the use of powdered substances in
the preparation of other dosage
forms is extensive.
 Granules

Granules, which are prepared by

agglomeration of powdered
materials, may be used for the
medicinal value of their content, or
they may be used for pharmaceutical
purposes, as in making tablets.
 Advantages
 Most of the drugs are available in powder
forms and it becomes more convenient for
the physician to prescribe.
 Powders are usually more stable than
liquids.
 Incompatibility is less in case of powders
than liquids.
 The smaller particle size of powders
produces more rapid dissolution in the
body fluids than other solid dosage forms
of medicament.
 Advantages
 Large quantities of bulky drugs which are
other wise difficult to administer can be
easily administered by mixing with
liquids.
 They are more easy to carry than liquids.
 They are economical as compared to other
dosage forms.
 Children and old persons who cannot
swallow solid dosage forms can easily
ingest powders.
 Disadvantages
 Drugs which deteriorate on exposure to
atmospheric conditions are not suitable
for dispensing in powder forms.
 Bitter, nauseous, corrosive and
unpalatable drugs cannot be dispensed in
powder form.
 Deliquescent and hygroscopic drugs
cannot be dispensed in powder form.
 Volatile drugs are not suitable for
dispensing in powder form.
 Methods of Preparation
 Trituration: Trituration is a method by
which coarse powders are converterd into
small particles by rubbing them in a mortar
with a pestle. Trituration is also used to mix
two dry powders.
 Pulverization: When it is difficult to
powder a material in a mortar because it is
soft or gummy, need to add a second material
which helps in the powdering and which is
latter removed. For example, powdering
camphor is difficult, so we add a small
amount of alcohol to it and we them powder
it, then we allow alcohol to evaporate.
 Methods of Preparation
 Levigation: The substance is powdered
by adding a suitable non solvent
(levigations agent) to it, to form a paste.
Then rub the paste in a mortar and
pestle. Liquid Paraffin is a commonly
used levigations agent.
Levigation is commonly used in small-
scale preparation of ointments and
suspensions to reduce the particle size
and grittiness of the added powders.
 Principles Involved in Powders Preparations

There are five principles involved in the

preparations of powders. These principles are
true for the preparation of granules in today’s
manufacture of tablets and capsules.
 Drug Content Uniformity: When
powdered drugs are mixed, the final objective
is to produce such a powder which is having
drug content uniformity throughout. If the
finished powder is taken in a paper, any
100mg sample, taken from any corner or
middle or any place in it of the drugs should
have the same ratio or the same contents of
the drugs involved in the prescription.
 Principles Involved in Powders Preparations

 Fine Size: The size of the powder should

be fine. Coarse powders are difficult to
swallow.
 Free Flowing: The powders should not
be wet. They should not be in lumps.
 Good Taste: Unpleasant taste should not
be there. If it is there, it should be
masked by adding sweetness.
 Suitable Amount: Amount should not be
too large or too small.
 Classification of Powders
 Simple and compound powders for internal
use (Divided Powders).
 Granular effervescent powders for internal
use.
 Bulk powders for internal use.
 Bulk powders for external use, e.g., dusting
powders, insufflations and tooth powders,
etc.
 Powders enclosed in cachets and capsules.
 Compressed powders (tablets) and tablet
triturates.
 Simple Powders
A simple powder contains only one
ingredient either in crystalline or
amorphous form.

Aspirin 300 mg

Calcium gluconate 1 gm
 Compound Powders / Divided Powder
Compound powders contain two or more than
two substances which are mixed together and
then divided into individual doses. Each dose
of the powder is separately packed into a
packet. The divided powder is a more
accurate dosage form than bulk powder
because the patient is not involved in
measurement of the dose.
Such as,
Aspirin 300 mg
Paracetamol 150 mg
Caffeine 50 mg
 Effervescent Granules
Effervescent salts are granules or coarse to
very coarse powders containing a
medicinal agent in a dry mixture usually
composed of sodium bicarbonate, citric
acid, and tartaric acid.
When added to water, the acids and the base
react to liberate carbon dioxide, resulting
in effervescence. The resulting carbonated
solution masks undesirable taste of any
medicinal agent.
 Bulk Powders
They are supplied in bulk quantities and the
patient measures out the dose according
to his need. The bulk powders meant for
internal use are supplied in wide-
mouthed containers in which a teaspoon
can be entered for easy removal of the
contents.
Only the non-potent substances are supplied
as bulk powders, e.g., antacids, laxatives,
B-complex vitamins and other nutritional
supplements etc.
 Bulk Powders for External Use
Dusting Powders
Dusting Powders are meant for external
application to the skin for antiseptic,
antipruritic, astringent, antiperspirant,
absorbent, protective and lubricant
purposes. These powders must be
homogenous and in a very fine state of
subdivision to enhance effectiveness and
minimize local irritation.
 Bulk Powders for External Use
Insufflations
These are the finely divided powders meant for
introduction into the body cavities such as
ears, nose, tooth sockets and vagina with the
help of an apparatus known as insufflator.
The major difficulty in using this apparatus is
that
o difficult to obtain a measured quantity of
drug to get a uniform dose;
o has a tendency to get blocked when the
powders used are wet or the apparatus
itself is wet.
 Bulk Powders for External Use
Snuffs
Snuffs are the finely divided solid dosage
form of medicament which are inhaled
into the nostrils for their antiseptic,
decongestion or bronchodialator action.
Dentifrices
Dentifrices are the substances which are
generally used with the help of tooth
brush for cleaning the surfaces of the
teeth. They are available in the form of
fine powders and pastes.
 Cachets
Cachets are the solid unit dosage form of
medicament in which the drug is enclosed
in a tasteless sheet made by pouring a
mixture of rice flour and water between
two hot, polished, revolving cylinders.
Water is removed and sheet of wafer
formed is known as cachet.
 Blending Powders
When two or more powdered substances are
to be combined to form a uniform mixture,
it is best to reduce the particle size of each
powder individually before weighing and
blending. Depending on the nature of the
ingredients, the amount of powder, and
the equipment, powders may be blended
by spatulation, trituration, sifting, and
tumbling.
 Blending Powders
When two or more powdered substances are
to be combined to form a uniform mixture,
it is best to reduce the particle size of each
powder individually before weighing and
blending. Depending on the nature of the
ingredients, the amount of powder, and
the equipment, powders may be blended
by spatulation, trituration, sifting, and
tumbling.
 Medicated Powders
Medicated powders for external use are
dusted on the affected area from a sifter-
type container or applied from a powder
aerosol. Powders intended for external
use should bear a label marked external
use only or a similar label.
Medicated powders for oral use may be
intended for local effects (e.g., laxatives) or
systemic effects (e.g., analgesics) and may
be preferred to counterpart tablets and
capsules by patients who have difficulty
swallowing solid dosage forms.
 Medicated Powders
Aerosol Powders
Some medicated powders are administered
by inhalation with the aid of dry-powder
inhalers, which deliver micronized
particles of medication in metered
quantities.
Most of these products are used in the
treatment of asthma and other bronchial
disorders that require distribution of
medication deep in lung. To accomplish
this, the particle size of the micronized
medication is prepared in the range of 1 to
6 μm in diameter.
 Powders Requiring Special
Considerations
1. Hygroscopic and Deliquescent
Powders
Substances which absorb moisture from the
atmosphere are not suitable for dispensing
in powder papers because the absorbed
moisture may promote the chemical
degradation of the drug and in the case of
effervescent preparations the acids may
completely react with sodium bicarbonate
rendering the preparation unfit for use.
When dispensing such powders, there are
several precautions which a pharmacist must
take to minimize absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere:
o The hygroscopic substances are usually
supplied in granular form in order to
expose less surface area to the
atmosphere. These powders should not be
finely powdered. If the need arises then
the powdering may be carried out in a
mortar.
o Such powders should be double wrapped.
In humid weather or when dealing with
very deliquescent substances further
wrapping in aluminum foil or plastic cover
is advisable.
 Powders Requiring Special Considerations

2. Eutectic Mixtures
When two or more substances are mixed
together they liquefy due to the formation of
a new compound which has a lower melting
point than room temperature.
The substances which on mixing liquefy are:
menthol, acetanilide, thymol, phenacetin,
camphor, aspirin, phenol, antipyrine, salol,
chloral hydrate.
In dealing with eutectic substances:
o Firstly they may be dispensed as
separate set of powders with directions
that one set of each kind shall be taken
as a dose.
o Secondly they may be incorporated in
powders by adding an inert absorbent
like magnesium carbonate, light
magnesium oxide, kaolin, starch,
lactose, calcium phosphate, bentonite,
etc.
 Powders Requiring Special Considerations

3. Efflorescent Powders
Crystalline substances liberate water of
crystallization wholly or partly due to
change in relative humidity or during
trituration, causing the powder to become
wet or to liquefy.
This difficulty may be overcome by using
either corresponding anhydrous salt or an
inert substance may be mixed with
efflorescent substance before incorporating
the other ingredients.
 Powders Requiring Special Considerations

4. Vegetable Powders
Vegetable Powders which contain volatile oils
should not be subjected to heavy grinding in a
mortar.
When it is necessary to powder them, they must
be powdered lightly in a mortar to prevent the
loss of volatile oils present in them.
In dispensing such vegetable powders and
other volatile substances they must be double
wrapped, inner wrapper of which should be of
wax paper.
 Powders Requiring Special Considerations

5. Explosive Substances
When an oxidizing agent and reducing agent
are triturated in a mortar there are chances
of explosion which may lead to serious
consequences.
Powder each substance separately and
dispense them in separate powder paper
with suitable directions to the patient
regarding its use.
 Powders Requiring Special Considerations

6. Potent drugs
Substances having a maximum dose of less
than 1 grain (64.80 mg) and poisonous
substances should be regarded as potent
substances.
The best method is to prepare triturations.
These are dilutions of potent powdered
drugs, prepared by intimate mixing of the
drug with suitable diluents in definite
proportion.
 Powders Requiring Special Considerations
7. Granular Powders
Sometimes it is difficult to present solid
medicaments with large doses in suitable dosage
form. The tablets and capsules cannot be prescribed
because a large number of them will be required to
take as a single dose which is not feasible, liquids
cannot be prepared because of stability problems.
Therefore the choice remains to powders . But the
bitter, nauseous and unpleasant powders are
difficult to dispense as such, therefore these
powders are prepared in the form of granules.
On a small scale the medicaments are mixed with
sweetening, flavouring and colouring agents in a
mortar. A suitable granulating agent is added to
moisten the powders until the mass becomes
coherent but not too damp.