36 | P a g e Dispensing-Lab |Dr.

Sidra Siddiqui

INTRODUCTION TO POWDER
A pharmaceutical powder is solid dosage form which contains mixture of finely
divided drugs or chemicals in a dry form meant for internal or external use.

It is a preparation in which drug is blended with other powdered substances and

used for internal or external purpose.

TYPES OF POWDER
Powders are subdivided solids which are classified in the BP according to the size of their
constituent particles of range from 1.25 (µm to 1.7 mm in diameter. Another classification
of powders is based on the manner of their dispensing.

A. Bulk Powders For External Use:

External bulk powders contain non-potent substances for external applications. These
powders are dispensed in glass, plastic wide mouth bottles and also in cardboard with
specific method of application. Bulk powders for external used are of four types.

(a) Dusting powders: These are used externally for local application not intended
for systemic action. Dusting powders usually contain substances such as zinc oxide, starch
and boric acid or natural mineral substances such as kaolin or talc. Dusting powders should
not be applied to broken skin. If desired, powders should be micronized or passed through a
sieve # 80 or 100. Dusting powders should preferably be dispensed in sifter-top containers.

(b) Snuffs: These are finely divided solid dosage forms of medicaments dispensed in flat
metal boxes with hinged lid, are inhaled into nostrils for decongestion and antiseptic.

(c) Douche powders: These powders are intended to be used as antiseptics or

cleansing agents for a body cavity, formulation include aromatic oils. They can be dispensed
either in wide mouth glass bottles or in powder boxes.

(d) Dental powders: Dental powders are rarely prescribed. This preparation is a type
of dentifrice meant for cleaning the teeth, powders contain detergents, abrasives, coloring,
antiseptics and flavoring agents incorporated in a suitable base.

(e) Insufflation: Insufflations are a class of powders meant for application to the body
cavities e.g., ear, nose, vagina etc with the help of a device called an insufflator. The
pharmaceutical industry packages the insufflations in pressurized form i.e., aerosols.

B. Bulk Powders For Internal Use:

Bulk powders contain many doses in a wide-mouth container that is suitable to remove
the powder by a teaspoon. The non-potent substances are used in bulk powder form such
as antacid, laxative, purgative, etc.
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C. Simple And Compound Powders For Internal Use:

These are unit dose powders normally packed in properly folded papers and dispensed
in envelopes, metal foil, small heat-sealed plastic bags or other containers. The mixture is
then divided into blocks of equal size and placed on a powder paper.

D. Effervescent Granules:
This class of preparations can be supplied either by compounding the ingredients as
granules or dispensed in the form of salts. The ingredients whether in granular form or
present as salts, react in presence of water evolving carbon dioxide gas

E. Cachets:
Cachet as a unit dosage form was very popular sometime back. Presently cachets are
seldom used and have been replaced by capsules. Due to its size, shape and they are made
from flour and water a cachet is difficult to swallow.

Advantages Of Powder:
 Powder form is the most versatile and convenient to prescribe, compound and
administer and they are stable and do not enter into reaction in solid state.
 It is possible to reduce them in the desired particle size range to increase absorption.
 Less incompatibility as compared to liquid dosage form.
 When effervescence is desired, fixed amount of reacting powders mixed with water.
 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.

DISADVANTAGES OF POWDER:
 As compared to other dosage forms, powders are time consuming to compound.
 Volatile, hygroscopic, oxidizing and deliquescent drugs create obvious difficulties
when dispensed as powders. Dose inaccuracy.

METHOD OF PREPARATION:
 Reduction of particle size to the same range to prevent stratification
 Sieving
 Weighing of each ingredient
 Mixing
 Packaging
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METHOD OF MIXING OF POWDER:

A. Trituration:
It is used to both reduce particle size and mix the powders. A porcelain dish with rough
inner surface is preferred than glass mortar with smooth inner surface.

B. Spatulation:
In this method, mixing of powder is done by using spatula through the powders on a
sheet of paper or porcelain tile. It is used for mixing of small quantity of powders and not
suitable for large quantity of powder.

C. Tumbling:
It is the process of mixing of powders in large container rotated by electric motor.

D. Sifting:
In this process, powders are prepared by passing through sifters. This process results in
light fluffy powder. It is not suitable for potent drugs.

E. Geometric Dilution:
It is used when potent drugs less than 60 mg are mixed with large amount of diluents.
The potent drug is placed equal with diluents in mortar and the substances are slightly
mixed by trituration.

100 mg drug + 900 mg lactose= 1000 mg powders

200 mg mixture + 200 mg lactose= 400 mg powders.

DISPENSING OF POWDER:
Hermetic stick packs and sachets are the optimal packaging solution for single-dosed
powder products. While some drugs provided in bulk amount, may stored in a container.

Example of powder:

 Cicatrin powder indicated for dust on effected area

 Ascorbic acid powder for vitamin deficiency