1. SEMISOLID DOSAGE FORMS AEROSOLS PRESCRIPTION WRITING
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Medical Faculty, Medical University – Sofia
Dr. Rumen Nikolov, PhD
SEMISOLID DOSAGE FORMS
AEROSOLS
PRESCRIPTION WRITING

2. Vehicles (bases)
A vehicle is defined as the inert carrier of the active ingredient
Lipophilic base: paraffin oil, petroleum jelly, wool fat (lanolin)
A lipophilic drug moves more readily into the epidermis if it is in an aqueous vehicle (to which it is less tightly bound)

3. The main rule of the local therapy is: if the skin is dry, use an ointment; if it is wet, use a cream.
Dry, chronic inflammation often improves more with drugs administered in lipophilic vehicles, whereas moist acute inflammation is best treated with aqueous preparations.

4. Semisolid dosage forms:
Ointment (unguentum - ung.)
Paste (pasta)
Cream (creme)
Gel (gel)
Adhesive plaster (emplastrum)
Transdermal therapeutic
systems – TTS
Suppositories (suppositoria - supp.)

5. Ointments
Ointments are greases with the permissible addition of up to 25% of powder by weight.
According the place of application they are:
1) unguentum dermaticum
2) unguentum ophthalmicum
3) unguentum nasale
Ointments are useful in any condition
characterized by dry skin (e.g. atopic dermatitis).

6. Pastes are greases containing more than 25% powder by weight
They are useful for dry surfaces
Pastes are very difficult to remove

7. 19. OINTMENTS
19. A) Prescribe 2,5 g Nemybacin in
the form of eye ointment.
Rp/ Ung. ophth. Nemybacini 2,5 g
D. tub. № 1
S. Apply in the lower conjunctival sac of the affected eye twice daily.

8. D. S. Apply to the affected skin
19b) Prescribe 30 g ointment, containing 2 g Salicylic acid and 4 g Benzoic acid.
Rp/ Acidi salicylici 2 g
Acidi benzoici g
Vaselini albi ad 30 g
M. f. unguentum
D. S. Apply to the affected skin
twice daily.
An ointment containing Benzoic acid and Salicylic
acid in a ratio of 2:1 is calls Whitfield’s ointment.
It is used mainly in the treatment of tinea pedis.

9. Rp/ Pasta Zinci 100 g D. S. Apply to the burned
20) Prescribe 100 g officinal paste, containing Zinc.
Rp/ Pasta Zinci 100 g
D. S. Apply to the burned
areas once daily

10. Creams These are either oil-in-water (O/W) or
water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions and contain
preservatives to prevent bacterial and
fungal growth
The commonest preservatives are
parabens
Oil-in-water emulsions rub into the skin
and are easily washed off
Water-in-oil emulsions are greasier

11. Gels Gels are semi-colloids which liquefy on contact with the skin
For use on the scalp and face gels or
lotion are acceptable
Gels are a common form for acne
preparations (e. g. Acnederm)

12. S. Apply to the affected skin
21. Cream and gel
21a) Prescribe Lamisil (1% 15 g) as officinal cream.
Rp/ Creme Lamisili 1% 15 g
D. tub. №1
S. Apply to the affected skin
areas twice daily.

13. S. Apply to the affected area
21b) Prescribe Troxevasin 2% 40 g as gel
Rp/ Gel Troxevasini 2% 40 g
D. tub. № 1
S. Apply to the affected area
twice daily.

14. Suppositories
Rectal suppositories – they can be produced a local (to treat haemorrhiods and ulcerative colitis) or systemic effects (for example anti-emetic effect)
Vaginal suppositories – they are produced a local antimicrobial effect
(e. g. Flagyl, Canesten Gyn 3)

15. Rp/ Supp. Paracetamoli 150 mg D. scat. № 1
22. Suppositories
22a) Prescribe Paracetamol as
suppositories each of 150 mg.
Rp/ Supp. Paracetamoli 150 mg
D. scat. № 1
S. Insert 1 supp. in rectum 3 times
daily.

16. Rp/ Supp. Ultraprocti D. scat. № 1 S. Insert 1 supp. in rectum
22. Suppositories.
22b) Prescribe Ultraproct as officinal suppositories.
Rp/ Supp. Ultraprocti
D. scat. № 1
S. Insert 1 supp. in rectum
once daily.

17. Plasters
Adhesive plasters – e. g. Citoplast
Transdermal patches (TTS)
Scopoderm TTS – 1,5 mg/72 h
Climara TTS – 25 µg/24 h
Nitroderm TTS – 25 mg/24 h
Duragesic TTS – 50 mcg/h

18. S. Stick 1 plaster of the skin once daily.
23.) Prescribe Fentanyl TTS
50 mcg/h (10 numbers).
Rp/ Fentanyl TTS 50 mcg/h
D.t.d. № 10
S. Stick 1 plaster of the skin once daily.

19. Aerosols Most drug are intended for inhalation
are administered by a pressurized aerosol
or, less frequently, a powder inhaler.
Aerosols for oral inhalation
1. Metered-dose inhaler (e. g. 250 µg/puff)
2. Spacers – is a large volume chamber that is
attached to the metered-dose inhaler used
to decrease the deposition of drug in the mouth
Nasal aerosols (e.g. Olynth, Flixonase)
Aerosols for external application

20. Rp/ Flixonase nasal 0,05% 100 g D. t. d. № 1 in flac.
24. Aerosols.
24a) Prescribe 100 g 0,05% Fluticasone as an officinal nasal aerosol.
Rp/ Flixonase nasal 0,05% 100 g
D. t. d. № 1 in flac.
S. 1-2 sprays/nostril/d.

21. Rp/ Fl. Ventolini 0,1 mg/dose D. t. d. № 1 S. One puff in the mouth.
24b) Prescribe one vial Salbutamol as an officinal aerosol (Ventolin 0,1 mg/dose).
Rp/ Fl. Ventolini 0,1 mg/dose
D. t. d. № 1
S. One puff in the mouth.