Ointments

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

What is
?Ointments
Creams
Pasts
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

Any greasy or oily semi-solid

preparation, usually
medicated, that can be
applied externally to the skin
in order to heal, soothe or
protect it.
It is a viscous semisolid
preparation used topically on
a variety of body surfaces.

What is
?Ointments
Creams
Pasts
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

What is
?Ointments

Drug ingredients can be

dissolved, emulsified or
suspended in the ointment
base.
The word ointment comes
from the Latin ungere
meaning anoint with oil.

Creams
Pasts
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

What is
?Ointments
Creams

Are ointments of a
particularly soft consistency
they are usually emulsion
ointments.
They are viscous liquid or
semisolid emulsions of oilin-water or water-in-oil type.
Easier to spread and easier
to remove than ointments.

Pasts
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

What is
?Ointments
Creams

Have very solid consistency

and contain usually relatively
large quantities of solids.
Contain a larger percentage
of solid material than
ointments (thicker and
stiffer).
Will not soften and flow after
application .

Pasts
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointment
What is Ointments?

Midicinal
application of
the Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointment
What is Ointments?

Ointments are used topically for

several purposes, e.g., as
Midicinal
protectants, antiseptics,
application of
emollients, antipruritics,
the Ointment
kerotolytics, and astringents.
In the case of a protective
Ointment bases
ointment, it serves to protect
Preparation of the
the skin against moisture, air,
Ointments
Storage and
sun rays and other external
dispensing
factors.
It is necessary that the
ointment neither penetrates the
human skin barriers nor
facilitates the absorption of
substances through this barrier.

Ointment
What is Ointments?

An antiseptic ointment is used

to destroy or inhibit the
Midicinal
growth of bacteria.
application of
Frequently bacterial
infections are deeply seated; a the Ointment
base which has the capacity to
Ointment bases
either penetrate or dissolve
Preparation of the
and release the medication
Ointments
effectively is therefore desired.
Storage and
dispensing
Ointments used for their
emollient effect should be easy
to apply, be non-greasy and
effectively penetrate the skin.

Ointments
What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B.
Water miscible O.B.
Choice of the O.B.
Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

There are five (5) classes or

types of ointment bases
which are differentiated on
the basis of their physical
composition. These are:
1. Oleaginous bases.
2. Absorption bases.
3. Water in oil emulsion bases.
4. Oil in water emulsion bases.
5. Water soluble or water
miscible bases.

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B.
Water miscible O.B.
Choice of the O.B.
Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments
What is Ointments?

These bases are fats, fixed oils,

Medicinal
hydrocarbon or silicones.
application of the
Ointment
They are anhydrous, greasy, nonwashable does not absorb water and Ointment
occlusive (form a film on skin so it
increases the skin hydration by
bases
reducing the rate of loss of surface Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
water.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B.
They should not be applied to
Water miscible O.B.
inffected skin.
Choice of the O.B.
Ideal O.B.
they are used as protectants,
emollients , vehicles for hydrolyzable
Preparation of the
drugs.
Ointments
Example: White Petrolatum,
Storage and
dispensing
White Ointment

Ointments

Oleaginous base + w/o surfactant.

Anhydrous but hydrophilic ointment
bases, they can absorb several
times their weight of water to form
water-in-oil emulsion.
They are non-washable, not water
soluble
They used as protectants, emollients
(+/-), vehicles for aqueous solutions,
solids, and non-hydrolyzable drugs.
Example: Hydrophilic
Petrolatum, Anhydrous Lanolin,
Aquabase, Aquaphor,
Polysorb

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases
Oleaginous O.B.

Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B.
Water miscible O.B.
Choice of the O.B.
Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

These are anhydrous, hydrophilic,

absorbs water and non water
removable, with low thermal
conductivity and occlusive.
They have the same properties
as the absorption basees.
They are used as emollients,
cleansing creams, vehicles for
solid, liquid, or non-hydrolyzable
drugs .
Examples: Cold Cream type,
Hydrous Lanolin, Rose Water
Ointment, Hydrocream,
Eucerin, Nivea .

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.

W/O emulsion
O.B.

O/W emulsion O.B.

Water miscible O.B.
Choice of the O.B.
Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

These bases are anhydrous, water

soluble, absorb water and water
washable.
They are either carbowaxes
Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) or
hydrated gums (bentonite, gelatin,
cellulose derivatives).

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.

O/W emulsion
O.B.

Water miscible O.B.

They are used as drug vehicles.

Examples: PEG Ointment,
Polybase

Choice of the O.B.

Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

These bases are anhydrous,

water soluble, absorb water and
water washable.
They are either carbowaxes
Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) or
hydrated gums (bentonite,
gelatin, cellulose derivatives).
They are used as drug vehicles.
Examples: PEG Ointment,
Polybase

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B

Water miscible
O.B.

Choice of the O.B.

Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

Selection of the Appropriate

Base Based on:
1. Desired release rate.
2. Desirability for enhancement
of percutaneous absorption.
3. Advisability of occlusion.
4. Short-term or long-term stability.
5. Influence of drug on consistency
or other features of ointment
base.
6. Patient factor - dry or weeping
(oozing) skin.

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B.
Water miscible O.B.

Choice of the
O.B.

Ideal O.B.

Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments

Among the properties which

an Ideal ointment base

should possess are:

1. Does not retard wound

healing.
2. Low sensitization index.
3. Pharmaceutical elegance.
4. A low index of irritation.
5. Non dehydrating.
6. Non greasy.
7. Neutral in reaction.
8. Good keeping qualities.

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment

Ointment
bases

Oleaginous O.B.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
O/W emulsion O.B.
Water miscible O.B.
Choice of the O.B.

Ideal O.B.
Preparation of the
Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointments
What is Ointments?

9. Compatible with common

Medicinal
application of the
medicaments.
Ointment
10.Efficient release of
Ointment
medicament at site of
bases
Oleaginous O.B.
application.
Absorption O.B.
W/O emulsion O.B.
11.Washability (easily
O/W emulsion O.B.
Water miscible O.B.
removed with water).
Choice of the O.B.
Ideal O.B.
12.Minimum number of
Preparation of the
ingredients.
Ointments
Storage and
13.Ease of compounding.
dispensing

Ointment
What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases

Preparation of
the Ointments
Storage and
dispensing

Ointment
What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Mix together (mortar &
pestle,
Preparation of
spatula & slab)
the Ointments
roller mill
Storage and
"levigating" the powder
dispensing
(reduction of particle size
in suspending agent
compatible with Electric
the Mortar and
Ointment Mill
Pestle
ointment
base)

Ointment
What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases

In porcelain dish all or some

components of an ointmentPreparation of
melted together and
the Ointments
cooled with constant
Storage and
dispensing
stirring until congealed,
add non-melting
substances as the ointment
is being cooled and stirred.

Ointment
What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments

Storage and
dispensing

Ointment
What is Ointments?

Ointments should be stored

Medicinal
application of the
in tightly closed and
Ointment
completely filled containers
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Changes in temperature can
Ointments
lead to the crystallization of
the drug and to changes in Storage and
the ointment base.
dispensing
They are usually dispensed
in jars of glass or plastic
material or in collapsible
tubes.

Ointment

Sterile ointments must be

dispensed in tubes or
single dose units in order to
protect the product against
contamination during use.

With tin tubes, there is a

risk of corrosion with
hydrophilic ointments.

What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments

Storage and
dispensing

Ointment
What is Ointments?
Medicinal
application of the
Ointment
Ointment bases
Preparation of the
Ointments

Prepare the ointment. Select an

ointment jar that will just hold
Storage and
all of the formulation.
Begin by taking some ointment. dispensing
..... and fill the bottom of
the ointment jar. Use the
spatula to put ointment
into the crevices.

Ointment
What is Ointments?

Continue adding ointment to the

Medicinal
jar again using the spatula to put
application of the
Ointment
the ointment along the sides of
Ointment bases
the jar.
Preparation of the
As you fill the jar, stab the spatula
Ointments
into the ointment a couple of
Storage and
times. This will reveal air
pockets that may have formed.
dispensing
Put the spatula halfway
across the filled jar, and
tilt in slightly.Rotate the
jar...

Ointment
What is Ointments?

...and this is make a

Medicinal
application of the
professional looking finish
Ointment
Ointment bases
on the top of the ointment.
Preparation of the
Wipe off ointment from the
Ointments
threads of the jar.
Storage and
Cap the ointment jar.
dispensing

Fadael A. Al-Saffar
Fatimah M. Al-Neemer
Leena N. Abdullatif
Manal A. Omran
Sukaina A. Al-Matrood