Page 5 - Course Guide 2019

2 GENERAL NOTES

FAR 122/4 Dosage Form 1 is the first of two related papers in the curriculum of School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences USM. This course dealt with the theoretical and practical aspects
involving different non-sterile conventional dosage forms available in the clinical settings.
Students will be exposed to the background and compounding technique with experiential
learning in different sessions of laboratory exercises.

The objectives of this course include:

- to interpret and understand prescription instructions written in Latin abbreviation,
English or Bahasa Malaysia,
- to calculate and discuss the method of preparation for various non-sterile
pharmaceutical dosage forms,
- to prepare, label and package commonly dispensed preparations,
- to use a model computer software program to do recording of patient information,
labelling of prescription and keeping drug record,
- to identify the usage and importance of flavoring and coloring agents, preservation and
preservatives, antioxidants, buffers and pH adjusting agents.

In the laboratory sessions, students will be required to prepare pharmaceutical preparations
extemporaneously, through small scale production. Although in current clinical setting such
practice is not as popular as before, compounding is a compulsory knowledge for pharmacists
and they must be able to compound products if needed.
Students should also pay attention to certain important aspects in compounding and
manufacturing such as:

- Personal hygiene. Remember that the products prepared are for patients.
- Personal protective equipment. Clean lab coat is important to prevent
contamination. Long hair should be tied back and hands are washed and ensure any
open cut is properly covered. Always were shoes to the lab.
- Work area. Clean and safe. Bring a cleaning towel to ensure that your working area is
clean at all time.
- Label preparation. The label should be prepared before compounding.
- Weighing and measuring. Avoid any accidental switching of weighed ingredients.
Ensure all weighed ingredients are properly label, or immediately incorporate a
weighed ingredient into a product.