Ointment
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An ointment is a viscous semisolid preparation used topically on a variety of body surfaces. These include the skin and the mucus membranes of the eye (an eye ointment), vagina, anus, and nose. An ointment may or may not be medicated.

Description

The vehicle of an ointment is known as ointment base. The choice of a base depends upon the clinical indication for the ointment, and the different types of ointment bases are:

1. Hydrocarbon bases. e.g. hard paraffin, soft paraffin.
2. Absorption bases. e.g. wool fat, beewax.
3. Water soluble bases. e.g. macrogols 200,300,400.

Properties which affect choice of an ointment base are:

1. Stability
2. Penetrability
3. Solvent property
4. Irritant effects
5. Ease of application and removal

Methods of preparation of ointments

Trituration: In this finely subdivided insoluble medicaments are evenly distributed by grinding with a small amount of the base followed by dilution with gradually increasing amounts of the base.

Fusion: In this method the ingredients are melted together in descending order of their melting points and stirred to ensure homogenity

Topical medication forms

(Source: ^[1])

• Cream - Emulsion of oil and water in approximately equal proportions. Penetrates stratum corneum outer layer of skin well.

• Ointment - Combines oil (80%) and water (20%). Effective barrier against moisture loss.

• Gel - Liquefies upon contact with the skin.

• Paste - Combines three agents - oil, water, and powder; an ointment in which a powder is suspended.

• Powder

See also

• Cream (pharmaceutical)
• Lotion
• Liniment
• Gel

External links

• History of ointments

v • d • e Dosage forms Oral Tablet · Capsule · Orally disintegrating tablet · Solution · Suspension · Elixir · Inhaler · Nebulizer ENT Eye drop · Ear drop Transdermal Ointment · Cream · Transdermal patch · Lotion · Liniment · Gel · Shampoo Injection Subcutaneous · Intravenous · Intramuscular · Intrathecal Vaginal Pessary (vaginal suppository) · Vaginal ring · Douche · Intrauterine device Rectal Suppository · Enema

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