Dispensing means to prepare and supply of a medicine to an individual
in accordance with the prescription of a practitioner.
For proper dispensing of medicines, it is necessary that a student pharmacist, should have a
sound knowledge of various branches of pharmacy. He should follow
the following instructions while working in the dispensing laboratory:
(1) Pharmacist is required to work independently in retail pharmacy or hospital pharmacy. So it becomes necessary for him to work on his own. In order to build up the confidence, the student required to avoid the temptation to lean on his fellow students tor help. In case any advice is needed, it should be obtained from a teacher who will come to know the difficulties of indiVidual students. It will help the teacher to amend his teaching techniques for the benefit of the students.
(2) Always wear a white overall coat. It helps to protect the clothes and reduces contamination of dispensed products with fibres and other foreign particles. Moreover, it creates a good impression in the eyes of the public.
(3) Keep a duster, clean glasS-cloth and sponge in your drawer. The glass cloth is required for polishing containers before issue to the patient. Duster is needed for wiping the bench. Sponge is needed for cleaning the surfaces of the balance and also to mope up wet spillage.
(4) Work in a clean and tidy manner. Do not accumulate stock bottles and used equipment in the working area, in order to reduce the risk of errors and contamination.
(5) Read the prescription carefully.Make sure that it is legally correct and there is no doubt in understanding it.
(6) Consult the pharmacopeia or any other reference book, in case there is a need to find the formula of the preparation.
(7) Check the doses of preparations which are meant for internal use.
(8) Check that there is no incompatibility in the preparation. Consult the official book or reference book to find the storage Condition for the preparation or the medicaments. This information will determine the choice of container and label.
(10) Work out the calculations.
(11) Check the calculations.
(12) Collect the correct container and closure.
(15) Prepare the label as per requirement of the container.
(14) Make the preparation, transfer it into the container and polish it.
(15) Fix the label to the container.
(16) Check the finished preparation.
(17) Wrap the container. Write the name and address of the patient on the wrapper.
(18) Maintain the record of the preparation which is dispensed.
Sources of Information
The folloWing official and reference books may be consulted during the dispensing of the prescription:
(1) Indian Pharmacopæia (I.P.) :
It is published by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The first edition ot the Indian pharmacopeia was published in 955.The subsequent editions were published in 1966, 1985 and 1996. It includes the formulae of the preparations, identification, various standards of the preparation., dosage, storage conditions and uses for individual drugs and preparations.
(2) British Pharmacopæia (B.P.) :
It is published by HMSO Books (London) on the recommendation ot medicines commission. It is primarily a book of standards. lt includes formulae of a few important preparations that are not in the B.P.C. or B.N.F. and gives dosage and storage directions tor individual drugs and preparations.
(3) British Pharmaceutical Codex (8.P.C.) :
it is prepared by the pharmaceutical society and published
by pharmaceutical press. It is a book of
reference on drugs and other
pharmaceutical substances. It provides
standards 1or a range or medicaments
and materials not included in the B.P. it includes information that is not given in British National Formulary (B.N.F).
(4) British National Formulary (B.N.F.) :
It is a joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. lt contains classified notes on drugs and preparations used in the treatment of diseases. These notes are spit into different chapters. Each chapter is divided into sections which begins with
appropriate notes tor prescribers. These notes are intended to provide information to doctors, pharmacists, nurses etc. to facilitate the selection of suitable treatment. The notes are followed by details of relevant drugs and preparations.
It also provides guidance on prescribing and emergency treatment of
poisoning.
(5) United States Pharmacopæia (U.S.P.):
It is published by the
United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc., Rockville, Maryland,
USA. It provides standards for drugs and chemicals used in the practice
of medicine and pharmacy.
(6) National Formulary (N.F.) :
It is also published by the United
States Pharmacopceial Convention, Inč., Rockville. It provides standards
for pharmaceutical ingredients including excipients.
(7) Extra Pharmacopæia (Martindale):
It is a reference book on drugs and medicines in current use throughout the world. It was first published by William Martindale in 1883 and is still known as Martindale. The main aim of this book is to provide upto date information on all official, unofficial and proprietary substances currently used in pharmacy
to the practising pharmacists and doctors.
(8) European Pharmacopeia:
This is prepared under the auspices
of the Council of Europe and was created to prevent tree circulation of
drugs within the European community. Its standards may take precedence over those of the B.P.
(9) International Pharmacopeia:
This is a publication of the World Health Organisation providing recommended standards for international use. The first International Pharmacopeia was published by the World Health Organisation in 1951(Volume ) and in 1955 (Volume I).
(10) Pharmaceutical Handbook:
This is a companion volume too the Extra Pharmacopeia. It is described as a reference manual for practitioners and students of pharmacy and allied professions.
(11) National Formulary of India (N.F.):
It provides the physiCians with carefully selected therapeutic agents of proven effectiveness. There is a separate Paediatric Section in the book. Chapters have also been devoted to the methods of poisoning and diagnostic agents.
(12) Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS) :
This is designed as a reference and prescribing guide FOR Doctor In general
Practice and list Proprietary preparations that can be prescribed or recommend.It is a useful source of up to date information on manufactured medicine.
13) ndian Drug Review (IDR):
It is a bimonthly publication of Mediworld Publishing Pvt. Ltd., It is a comprehensive references guide edited by top medical professionals.
14)Indian Pharmaceutical Guide:
It is a comprehensive guide for pharmaceutical profession, trade and industry.t 15 published by Kongposh Publication, New Delhi. It provides up-to-date information On all areas of pharmacy profession. It is published every year. lt is a useful sOurce of information on manufactured medicines, list OF buyers and suppliers of raw material and pharmaceutical maChinery.
15) Pharmaceutical Journals:
The names and addresses of some
useful J allournals is given in the end of this chapter on page.
Fundamental Operations in Compounding
Compounding and dispensing 1s concerned with the preparation of
medicines trom basic ingredients on a small scale. he accurate and
elegant compounding of medicines requires expertise in several fundamental Operations which are as under -:
1.Weighing
2.Measurement of liquids
3.Dissolution
4.Filteration
5.Mixing
6.Size Reduction
7.Size Separation
Tags
Dispensing Pharmacy