Unit 3 – Suppositories & Pharmaceutical Incompatibilities

Pharmaceutical Analysis I – B Pharma 1st Semester (AKTU & PCI Syllabus)

At FirstHope, we offer precise, exam-oriented notes aligned with the PCI-approved B Pharma syllabus. Unit I of Pharmaceutical Analysis introduces key concepts like concentration methods, standard solutions, and analytical errors. Therefore, a strong grasp of this unit is vital for semester success and exams like GPAT and NIPER.

Suppositories

Suppositories are solid dosage forms inserted into body cavities for local or systemic effects.

Key Points:

• Types – Rectal, vaginal (pessaries), urethral (bougies).
• Advantages – Avoids first-pass metabolism, useful for unconscious or vomiting patients.
• Disadvantages – Patient discomfort, storage sensitivity.
• Bases – Fatty (e.g., cocoa butter), water-soluble (e.g., PEG), glycerinated gelatin.
• Preparation – Hand molding, fusion, compression.
• Displacement Value – Amount of base displaced by the drug; essential for accurate dosing.
• Evaluation – Melting point, disintegration, uniformity, and strength tests.

Pharmaceutical Incompatibilities

These are undesirable interactions affecting drug stability, appearance, or efficacy.

Types:

• Physical – Precipitation, phase separation.
• Chemical – Reactions like oxidation or hydrolysis.
• Therapeutic – Antagonistic drug effects.

Examples:

• Calcium with sulfates (physical), ascorbic acid with iron salts (chemical).