6 Pharmacy Compounding Terms
There are many specialized terms used in pharmaceutical compounding. This is a list of some of the common terms and their definitions. More details will be provided for many of these definitions throughout the book.
Pharmacy Compounding Terms & Definitions
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) – The therapeutic component of a medication responsible for its intended effect.
Anhydrous Base – A base that contains no water and is typically used for hydrophobic (water-repelling) formulations.
Base – The carrier or vehicle in which active and inactive ingredients are mixed to form the final compounded product.
Beyond-Use Date (BUD) – the date after which a compounded preparation should no longer be used. This date is calculated from the date the compound is prepared and is based on stability data and compounding guidelines. Determined from the date the preparation is compounded and does not exceed the earliest expiry date of any one single ingredient,
Compounding – The custom preparation of medications to meet individual patient needs when commercially available products are unsuitable.
Compounding Formulas – Detailed recipes outlining ingredients, procedures, and quality control steps for compounded preparations.
Compounding Supervisor – A trained professional responsible for overseeing the compounding process, ensuring compliance with regulations and quality standards.
Diluent – A substance used to dilute an active drug or solution, making it less concentrated.
Dissolution – The process of a solid drug dissolving in a liquid to form a uniform solution.
Electronic Weigh Scale – A digital balance used for accurate measurement of ingredients in compounding.
Emollient – A moisturizing agent that softens and soothes the skin, often used in topical preparations.
Emulsifier – A substance that helps blend oil and water to form a stable emulsion.
Emulsion – A mixture of two immiscible liquids (e.g., oil and water), stabilized by an emulsifier.
Excipients – Inactive substances added to a formulation to improve texture, stability, taste or drug delivery.
Geometric Dilution – A mixing technique where a small amount of an API is gradually combined with a larger amount of base in equal proportions to ensure an even distribution of two or more substances.
Inactive Ingredients – Non-medicinal components in a formulation that support the delivery of the active ingredient (e.g., fillers, preservatives).
Levigating Agent – A viscous liquid acting as a lubricating agent that wets the powder and aides the incorporation of a solid into a vehicle and creates a smoother preparation.
Levigation – To rub, grind or reduce a solid to a fine powder by mixing with a semisolid or liquid. This can be done in a mortar or on an ointment slab with a spatula. When adding liquid, start with a small amount (levigating agent) to wet the powder.
Master Formulation Record (MFR) – A standardized document containing the instructions, ingredients, and procedures for compounding a specific medication.
Non-Sterile Compounding – The preparation of medications that do not require sterility, such as creams, ointments, and capsules.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Protective clothing and gear (e.g., gloves, masks, goggles) worn to ensure safety during compounding.
Preservative – An ingredient added to prevent microbial growth and extend the shelf life of a formulation.
Quality Assurance (QA) – A systematic process of ensuring that products or services meet established standards of quality through planned and monitored activities.
Quality Control (QC) – The procedures used to verify the consistency, potency, and safety of compounded medications.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) – A document providing safety, handling, and hazard information for chemicals used in compounding.
Solution – A liquid preparation in which a drug is completely dissolved in a solvent.
Spatulation – The mixing of powders and semi-solids (ointments, creams, etc.) on an ointment pad or slab using a spatula. With this method there is no particle size reduction, so the powders to be mixed must be fine and of uniform size.
Stability – The ability of a compounded preparation to maintain its potency, safety, and physical properties over time.
Suspension – A liquid preparation containing finely dispersed solid particles that do not dissolve but remain suspended in the liquid, requiring shaking before use.
Triturate – To grind or crush a substance into a fine powder, often using a mortar and pestle.
Trituration – A method using a mortar and pestle to reduce particle size (comminution); Trituration is done by firmly holding the pestle and exerting a downward pressure with it while moving it in circles starting at the center of the mortar, moving outward to the side of the mortar, then back again toward the center.
Below is a flip card activity to help you learn these terms.
