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Pastes

Pastes are semi-solid preparations for external use consisting of finely powdered medicaments combined with a base. They contain a high proportion of powders which makes them very stiff, allowing for localized drug delivery to the skin. Common uses of pastes include protecting and soothing skin as well as absorbing chemicals or wound exudates due to their thick consistency. To prepare a paste, powders are mixed and incorporated into a melted base which is then cooled while stirring.

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263 views17 pages

Pastes

Pastes are semi-solid preparations for external use consisting of finely powdered medicaments combined with a base. They contain a high proportion of powders which makes them very stiff, allowing for localized drug delivery to the skin. Common uses of pastes include protecting and soothing skin as well as absorbing chemicals or wound exudates due to their thick consistency. To prepare a paste, powders are mixed and incorporated into a melted base which is then cooled while stirring.

Uploaded by

Solomon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Pastes

Riot S.
Definition
 Pastes are semi-solid preparations for external
use.
 They consist of finely powdered medicaments combined
with White Soft Paraffin BP or Liquid Paraffin BP or with
a non-greasy base made from glycerol, mucilages or
soaps.
 Pastes contain a high proportion of powdered
ingredients and therefore are normally very stiff.
 Because pastes are stiff they do not spread easily and
therefore this localises drug delivery.
 This is particularly important if the ingredient to be
applied to the skin is corrosive such as dithranol, coal
tar or salicylic acid.
Definition…
 It is easier to apply a paste to a discrete skin area such as
a particular lesion or plaque and not therefore compromise
the integrity of healthy skin.
 Pastes are also useful for absorbing harmful chemicals
such as the ammonia which is released by bacterial action
on urine and so are often used in nappy products.
 Also, because of their high powder content, they are often
used to absorb wound exudates.
 Because pastes are so thick they can form an unbroken layer
over the skin which is opaque and can act as a sun filter. This
makes them suitable for use for skiers as they prevent
excessive dehydration of the skin (wind burn) in addition to
sun blocking.
 The principal use of pastes was traditionally as an
antiseptic, protective or soothing dressing.
 Often before application the paste was applied to lint and
then applied as a dressing.
Example :The preparation of Zinc and Coal Tar
Paste BP

 You receive a prescription in your pharmacy with


the following details:

Use of the product


Used to treat psoriasis (and occasionally chronic atopic eczema)
(BNF 51st edn, pp 582–583)
Example….

 Is it safe and suitable for the intended


purpose?
 This is an official preparation, therefore the
formula is safe and suitable for purpose.
 The BNF (51st edn,p 583) suggests an
application frequency of 1–2 times daily which
is consistent with the prescription
 Calculation of formula for preparation
 Prepare 20 g Zinc and Coal Tar Paste BP
Product formula :BP 2004, page 2810

Method of preparation
•Vehicle/diluent: Yellow Soft Paraffin BP is used as the diluent as per the
product formula.
•Preservative :There is no preservative included as per the product
formula.
•Flavoring when appropriate: Pastes are for external use and so no
flavoring is required
Method of preparation
 Noting the melting points of the ingredients:
 Emulsifying Wax BP 52°C
 White/Yellow Soft Paraffin BP 38–56°C
 Weigh 1.8 g Zinc Oxide BP and transfer to a
porcelain mortar.
 Weigh 11.4 g Starch BP and add the Starch BP to
the Zinc Oxide BP in the porcelain mortar and stir
with the pestle.
 The powders must be mixed, remembering the principle of
‘doubling-up’ in order to ensure even mixing of the powders
 Weigh 1.5 g Emulsifying Wax BP, 1.8 g Coal Tar BP
and 13.5 g Yellow Soft Paraffin BP
Preparation…..
 Place the Emulsifying Wax BP into an evaporating
dish and melt over a water bath at 70°C.
 Add the Coal Tar BP and half of the Yellow Soft
Paraffin BP to the evaporating basin.
 Stir at 70°C until melted.
 Add the remaining Yellow Soft Paraffin BP stir until
melted.
 Cool to approximately 30°C and add the powders
and stir constantly until cold.
 Weigh 20 g of the paste transfer to a collapsible
tube or amber glass jar, dispense and label
Preparation…..
 The above method is as recommended by the British
Pharmacopoeia. An alternative method would be:
 Melt the Yellow Soft Paraffin BP and Emulsifying Wax BP
together at the lowest possible temperature, stirring until
cool, to make a homogeneous product.
 Mix the powders as before but transfer them to a glass
tile and incorporate the powders into the base using a
spatula.
 Finally, using a spatula (preferably ebonite), incorporate
the Coal Tar BP
 This method may be preferred because of the possible
problem of toxicity associated with Coal Tar BP.
 This method would avoid heating the Coal Tar BP and
therefore reduce the volatilisation of some of the coal tar
constituents and reduce the risk of sedimentation.
Labelling considerations

Title
 The product is official, therefore the following title would be
suitable: ‘Zinc and Coal Tar Paste BP’.
Product-specific cautions (additional labelling
requirements)
 ‘For external use only’ will need to be added to the label as the
product is a paste for external use
Directions to patient – interpretation of Latin abbreviations
where necessary
 ‘Apply TWICE a day as directed.’
Recommended BNF cautions when suitable
 Not applicable.
Discard date
 The product is a paste and so will attract a 3-month discard
date.
Sample label

Advice to patient
 The patient would be advised to apply the ointment twice a
day as directed.
 In addition, the discard date and the fact that the product
is for external use only would be highlighted to the patient.
E.g. The preparation of Dithranol Paste BP

 You receive a prescription in your pharmacy with


the following
details:

Use of the product


Used in treatment of subacute and chronic psoriasis (BNF 51st edn, p
583).
Preparation…
 Is it safe and suitable for the intended purpose?
 This is an official preparation, therefore the formula is safe
and suitable for purpose

Product formula (from BP 2004, p 2372)

Vehicle/diluent : Zinc and Salicylic Acid Paste BP


Preservative : no preservative
Flavouring :NO flavouring is required.
Procedure
 Weigh 50 mg Dithranol BP and Transfer to a glass
tile.
 Weigh 49.95 g Zinc and Salicylic Acid Paste BP and
Transfer the Zinc and Salicylic Acid Paste BP to the
glass tile.
 Triturate Dithranol BP with the Zinc and Salicylic
Acid Paste BP, remembering the principle of
‘doubling-up’ until a smooth product is formed.
 Weigh 40 g of the product and pack into a
collapsible tube or amber glass jar.
 Label and dispense
Labelling considerations
 Title: The product is official, therefore the
following title would be suitable: ‘Dithranol Paste
BP 0.1%’.
 Product-specific cautions: ‘For external use only’
will need to be added to the label as the product is
a paste for external use.
 Directions to patient – ‘Apply as directed.’
 Recommended BNF BNF cautions when suitable
 The BNF (51st edn, p 584) recommends the
following cautions:
 ‘To be spread thinly…’
 Discard date: will attract a 3-month discard date.
Sample label
 you can assume that the name and address of
the pharmacy and the words ‘Keep out of the
reach of children’ are pre-printed on the label):
Advice to patient
 The patient would be advised to apply the paste
thinly as directed.
 In addition, the discard date and the fact that the
product is for external use only would be highlighted to
the patient.

 If further direction for use is requested, the


patient could be advised to apply the paste once
or twice a day as, although the concentration of
Salicylic Acid BP is quite low when compared to
preparations used in the treatment of warts and
hard skin, it will act as a keratolytic and so a
maximum application frequency of once or twice a
day would be appropriate.

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