Examples on Solution Preparations
Example 1 – Ammonium and Ipecacuanha Mixture BP. Mitte 100ml
Master Formula
Scaled Formula – 100ml
Ammonium Bicarbonate
200mg
2g
Liquorice Liquid Extract
0.5ml
5ml
Ipecacuanha tincture
0.3ml
3ml
Concentrated Camphor water
0.1ml
1ml
Concentrated Anise water
0.05ml
0.5 ml
Double strength chloroform water
5ml
50ml
Water
to 10ml
to 100ml
Actions and Uses: Expectorant cough preparation. The benefit of expectorant mixtures is doubtful, but
they may be useful as placebo and they are inexpensive.
Formulation Notes: Ammonium bicarbonate, ipecacuanha and camphor water are mild expectorants.
Anise water acts as a mild expectorant and flavoring agent. Liquid liquorice extract is used as a mild
expectorant, flavoring and sweetening agent. Chloroform water acts as a sweetener and a preservative.
Ammonium bicarbonate is soluble 1 in 5 of wate3r, so will dissolve to give a solution. All other
ingredients are liquids.
Method of Preparation: The ammonium bicarbonate should be weighed on a suitable balance and
dissolved in approximately 15ml water, in a 100ml conical measure. The double strength chloroform
water should be added to this solution. The other liquid ingredients should be measured and added to
this solution. The mixture should then be made up to volume in the conical measure. It should be
packed into an amber medicine bottle with a child resistant closure. The bottle should be polished and
labeled, and a 5ml spoon should be given with the medicine.
Shelf life and storage: Store in a cool, dry place. It is recently prepared, therefore a shelf-life of 2-3
weeks is applicable.
Advice and labeling: ‘Shake well before use’. While this is not strictly required, it is good practice to
include it.
1
Example 2 – Rx 10ml Sodium Bicarbonate Ear Drop BP
Master Formula
Sodium Bicarbonate
Glycerol
Water
Scaled Formula – 10ml
5g
500mg
30ml
3ml
to 100ml
to 10ml
Actions and Uses: For the softening and removal of earwax (usually prior to syringing with warm water)
Formulation Notes: Sodium Bicarbonate is soluble 1 in 11 of water. Glycerol is a viscous liquid used to
thicken the drops, but presents problems in measuring the volume accurately.
Method of Preparation: Weigh 500mg sodium bicarbonate and dissolve in 6ml of water, using a 10ml
conical measure. Carefully make the volume up to 7ml using water. Carefully add glycerol up to the 10ml
mark (this will result in 3ml of glycerol being added to the solution). Pack in a 10ml hexagonal, amber,
ribbed bottle with a dropper. Polish and label the bottle on the thee smooth sides.
Shelf-life and storage: Store in a cool, dry place. The drops are recently prepared, therefore a shelf-life
of 2-3 weeks is applicable.
Advice and labeling: ‘Shake well before use’ and ‘Not to be taken’. The bottle may be warmed in the
hands before placing drops in the ears. A patient information leaflet should be used to describe how to
use the drops.
2
Example 3 – 200ml Diamorphine Linctus
Master Formula
Diamorphine hydrochloride
Scaled Formula – 200ml
3mg
120mg
Oxymel
1.25ml
50ml
Glycerol
1.25ml
50ml
Compound tartrazine solution
0.06 ml
2.4ml
Syrup
to 5ml
to 200ml
Actions and Uses: A cough suppressant in terminal care.
Formulation notes: Oxymel is a solution of acetic acid, water, and purified honey, used as a demulcent
and sweetening agent in linctuses. Glycerol is also a demulcent and sweetener. Compound tartrazine
solution is a coloring agent and syrup is a demulcent vehicle. Diamorphine is soluble 1 in 1.6 of water
and 1 in 12 of alcohol, so a solution will be produced.
Method of Preparation: Weigh 120mg diamorphine on an appropriate balance. Transfer to a 200ml
measuring cylinder. Dissolve the diamorphine in the oxymel and glycerol. Add about 50ml of syrup, then
add the compound tartrazine solution. Transfer to a previously tared amber medicine bottle. Make up to
volume with the syrup in the tared bottle in order to overcome difficulties in draining all the viscous
mixture from a measure. Close with a child resistant closure, polish and label the bottle and give a 5ml
medicine spoon or oral syringe with the medicine.
Shelf life and storage: Store in a cool, dry place. It is recently prepared, therefore a shelf life of 2-3
weeks is applicable.
Advice and labeling: ‘Shake well before use. The linctus should be sipped and swallowed slowly,
undiluted. “The medicine may cause drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic drink” (BNF label 2). Since this patient
is terminally ill, they are unlikely to be driving or operating heavy machinery so this part of the advisory
label can be omitted. Alcohol should be avoided as this will increase the sedative effect.
3
Example 4 – 50ml Chloral elixir, paediatric. For an 8-month-old baby.
Master Formula
Scaled Formula – 50ml
Chloral hydrate
200mg
2g
Water
0.1ml
1ml
1ml
10ml
to 5ml
to 50ml
Blackcurrent syrup
Syrup
Actions and Uses: For short-term use in insomnia
Formulation notes: Chloral hydrate is soluble 1 in 0.3 of water and has an unpleasant taste. Blackcurrent
syrup is used as a flavoring agent to mask this.
Method of Preparation: Weigh 2g chloral hydrate on a suitable balance. Transfer it to a 50ml measuring
cylinder and dissolve it in water. Add the blackcurrent syrup. Add some of the syrup (rinsing the
measure used for the blackcurrent syrup). Transfer the mixture to a tared, 50ml amber medicine bottle
and make up to volume, to avoid loss of the viscous product in the measures. Polish and label the bottle
and give a 5ml medicine spoon or oral syringe with the medicine.
Shelf life and storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Choral hydrate is volatile and sensitive to light. It is
recently prepared and a shelf life of 2-3 weeks is appropriate.
Advice and labeling: ‘Shake well before use’ and BNF label 1 and 27. An appropriate dose for a child up
to 1 year is one 5ml spoonful to be given, well diluted with water, at bedtime. The parent should be
advised that this might make the child drowsy.
4
Example 5 – Compound Sodium Chloride Mouthwash BP. Mitte 500ml.
Master Formula
Sodium Chloride
Scaled Formula – 500ml
1.5g
7.5g
1g
5g
Concentrated peppermint emulsion
2.5ml
12.5ml
Double strength chloroform water
50ml
250ml
Sodium bicarbonate
Water
to 100ml
to 500ml
Actions and Uses: Mechanically cleans and freshens the mouth
Formulation Notes: Concentrated peppermint emulsion is used as a flavoring and the chloroform water
is a sweetener and preservative. Sodium chloride is soluble 1 in 3 of water and sodium bicarbonate is
soluble 1 in 11 of water.
Method of preparation: The solids are weighed on a suitable balance and dissolved in 500ml conical
measure in approximately 100ml of water. Add the double strength chloroform water and the
concentrated peppermint emulsion. Make up to volume with water. Pack in an amber ribbed bottle with
a child-resistant closure. Polish and label the bottle.
Advice and labeling: ‘Shake well before use’. The patient should be directed to use about 15ml diluted
in an equal volume of warm water, usually morning and night, unless otherwise directed. The solution
should be used as a mouthwash and should not be swallowed, although reassure the patient that it is
not harmful to swallow small amounts of the mouthwash.
5