Class contact hours:

• Lectures: two 75 minute lectures and one 50 minute pre-lab lecture per week
• laboratory (one 3 hour laboratory) per week

Purpose of the course: 
This course will introduce the student to the techniques used to compound medicinal products. The physical chemical basis of product formulation and practical aspects of choosing and preparing the appropriate dosage form will be described and demonstrated in weekly laboratories. The pharmacist's technical and dispensing knowledge and its impact on patient care will be covered.

Course objectives:
After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Read and interpret the written prescription.
• Determine if more information is needed before the prescription can be filled.
• Document and annotate any additions or changes to the prescription.
• Explain the medicinal and pharmaceutical function of each ingredient.
• Identify the use of the product for the patient.
• Locate the source of the formula(e) through knowledge of standard reference sources.
• Refer to standard reference sources to determine whether there are any physical or chemical incompatibilities.
• Calculate the required quantities of all ingredients.
• Verify the dosage and calculation for each ingredient and patient condition.
• Develop a procedure to compound the prescription given the above information.
• Use the appropriate equipment and technique(s) to compound the prescription.
• Label the prescription according to the requirements stated in the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Act.
• Counsel the patient on the appropriate use of the compounded prescription.

Teaching and learning methods:
An interactive lecturing style with some material presented in didactic form will be used Problems will be assigned for homework. Students will be expected to work independently on their assignments and in the laboratory.
 

Assessment program:
There will be one mid-term test (1 hour) covering lecture and laboratory material before the mid-term break worth 20% of the term mark.
Each laboratory will be marked on a weekly basis. Each preparation will be graded according to the scheme provided in the laboratory manual. Laboratories will constitute 20% of the term mark.
There will be a final practical laboratory exam at 15% of the term mark.
The final exam (3 hour) scheduled by Student Records during examination period will account for the remaining 45% of the term mark.

The total of the above evaluations will be translated into the following letter grades:

Total Percentage (%), Achieved Letter Grade, Grade Point, Description
90 - 100, A+, 4.5, Exceptional
80 - 89, A, 4.0, Excellent
75 - 79, B+, 3.5, Very Good
70 - 74, B, 3.0, Good
65 - 69, C+, 2.5, Satisfactory
60 - 64, C, 2.0, Adequate
50 - 59, D, 1, Marginal
49 - 0, F, 0, Failure

1. Gennaro, A. R., editor, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2000 edition.
2. Judith E. Thompson, A Practical Guide to Contemporary Pharmacy Practice, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999.
3. Rees, J. A., Smith, I., Smith, B., Introduction to Pharmaceutical Calculations, Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2001.
4. Thadani, M. B., Basic Pharmaceutical Compounding, Cantext Publications, Winnipeg, 2001.
5. Thadani, M. B., Fundamentals of Pharmaceutics Laboratory Manual, 46.119, 2003.

1. Prescription balances and dilution techniques
2. Trituration and levigation procedures
3. Solutions
4. Suspensions
5. Emulsions
6. Orientation to hospital pharmacy
7. Ointments
8. Pastes
9. Colloids/Keratolytics
10. Dermatologicals
11. Extemporaneous Preparations
12. Lab Exam
13. Laboratory Check out

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24 June 2002